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Ryanair Holdings plc

ryaay · NASDAQ Industrials
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Industry Airlines, Airports & Air Services
Employees 10,000+
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FY2012 Annual Report · Ryanair Holdings plc
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CONTENTS 

2  Financial Highlights 

4  Chairman‟s Report 

5  Chief Executive‟s Report 

9  Summary Operating and Financial Overview 

11  Directors‟ Report  

15  Corporate Governance Report 

27  Report of the Remuneration Committee on Directors‟ Remuneration 

28  Statement of Directors‟ Responsibilities 

30  Independent Auditor‟s Report 

32  Presentation of Financial and Certain Other Information 

34  Detailed Index* 

36  Key Information 

42  Principle Risks and Uncertainties 

55  Information on the Company 

77  Operating and Financial Review 

81  Critical Accounting Policies 

95  Directors, Senior Management and Employees 

103  Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions 

103  Financial Information 

113  Additional Information 

122  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

127  Controls and Procedures 

130  Consolidated Financial Statements 

186  Company Financial Statements 

192  Directors and Other Information 

193  Appendix 
*See Index on page 34 for detailed table of contents. 

Information  on  the  Company  is  available  online  via  the  Internet  at  our  website,  www.ryanair.com. 
Information on our website does not constitute part of this Annual Report. This Annual Report and our 20-F 
are available on our website.  

1 

 
 
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

Summarised consolidated income 
statement in accordance with IFRS  as 
adjusted – see below                     

Operating revenue (i) 

Net profit after tax 

Adjusted net profit after tax (ii) 

Basic EPS (in euro cent) 

Adjusted basic EPS (in euro cent)  

    2012 
 €M 

     2011 
        €M 

    Change 

4,324.9 

3,629.5 

+19% 

560.4 

502.6 

38.03 

34.10 

374.6 

+50% 

400.7 

+25% 

25.21 

+51% 

26.97 

+26% 

(i)  Excludes  for  the  year  ended  March  31,  2012  a  one  off  release  of  ticket  sales  revenue  of  €65.3  million,  due  to  a  change  in 

accounting estimate arising from enhancements to our Revenue Accounting Systems, and 

(ii)  Excludes, for the year ended March 31, 2011, estimated costs of €26.1m (net of tax) relating to the closure of airspace in April 

and May 2010 due to the Icelandic volcanic ash disruptions. 

See reconciliation of profit for the financial year to adjusted profit for the financial year on pages 9 and 10.   

2 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
Key Statistics                       

Scheduled passengers 

Fleet at period end 

Average number of employees 

Passengers per average no. of employees 

    2012               2011            Change 

75.8m 

72.1m 

294 

8,438 

8,983 

272 

8,063 

8,942 

+5% 

+8% 

+5% 

+1% 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
CHAIRMAN‟S REPORT 

Dear Shareholders, 

I am very pleased to report a 25% increase in profit after tax to a new record of €503 million.  This was a 
strong  performance  despite  a  €367  million  rise  in  fuel  costs  which  we  managed  to  offset  by  a  16%  rise  in 
average fares.   

During the year Ryanair delivered a number of significant milestones: 

  We grew our traffic by 5% to 76 million passengers. 

  We took delivery of 25 (net) new aircraft and we had a year-end fleet of 294 Boeing 737-800‘s.   

  We opened 6 new bases and 330 new routes bringing the total number of routes operated to over 1,500.    

  We  improved  our  industry  leading  passenger  service  with  better  punctuality,  fewer  lost  bags  and  less 

cancellations.   

  We  completed  a  share  buyback  of  €125  million  in  fiscal  2012  and  €68  million  in  April  2012,  and  the 
board have proposed a dividend of €0.34 per share amounting to approximately €489 million subject to 
shareholder  approval  at  the  annual  general  meeting.    The  combination  of  the  second  special  dividend 
(subject to shareholder approval) and previous share buybacks and dividends will mean that Ryanair has 
returned an industry leading €1.53 billion to shareholders over the past 5 years. 

Fuel costs as a proportion of our total operating costs have risen to 43% in fiscal 2012.  We are 90% hedged 
for fiscal 2013, at just over $100 per barrel and we are faced with a further €320 million increase in our fuel bill, 
a  total  increase  in  2  years  of  €687  million.    Oil  price  rises  and  higher  winter  airport  charges  at  certain 
government owned airports will make it commercially sound to ground up to 80 aircraft rather than suffer losses 
operating  these  aircraft  during  the  winter  when  yields  are  significantly  lower.    Nevertheless,  we  still  expect 
passenger volumes in fiscal 2013 to grow by approximately 5% to 79 million passengers.   

In the airline industry, we yet again face another challenging year with significantly higher fuel prices and 
with  European  government  fiscal  deficits  resulting  in  austerity  measures  and  leading  to  falling  European 
consumer confidence. As recessionary pressures continue we believe more carriers will exit the industry and we 
intend to take advantage of those developments, as we have this year, when we opened a new base in Budapest 
following the closure of Malev, and  significantly expanded our operations at Barcelona and Madrid following 
the closure of Spanair. We believe that the winners will be those airlines with strong balance sheets (we currently 
have over €3.8 billion in cash), the lowest costs and a strong sustainable business model.    

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paolo Pietrogrande for his contribution and commitment to 
Ryanair as a director over the last eleven years.  Although eligible,  Paolo has decided not to stand for re-election 
at the AGM on September 21, 2012 and we wish him much success in the future. 

Notwithstanding the issues we face, the outstanding people at Ryanair continue to work hard on behalf of 
shareholders to reduce our costs while at the same time delivering the lowest fares in Europe to our 79 million 
passengers.  As a result, we still expect to generate significant profits in fiscal 2013 although these are likely to 
be lower than we enjoyed in fiscal 2012.   

Yours sincerely, 

_______________ 

David Bonderman 
Chairman 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE‟S REPORT 

Dear Shareholders, 

Our results for the past year underline the enduring strength of Ryanair‘s ultra low fare airline model here in Europe.  
While traffic growth has slowed, Ryanair delivered a 25% increase in annual profits to a new record of €503 million.  
Our traffic grew 5% to 75.8 million, our load factor was 82% and average fare (which include optional checked in 
bag  fees)  rose  by  16%  to  €45.    Group  turnover  rose  19%  to  €4,325  million,  which  included  scheduled  revenue 
growth of 22% to €3,439 million, and ancillary revenue growth of 11% to €886 million.   

Operating costs rose 19% to €3,707 million, due to a €367 million (30%) increase in our fuel bill to €1,594 million 
and further unjustified price increases at Dublin Airport, where the Government owned DAA monopoly continues to 
raise airport fees while presiding over record traffic declines.  Over the past 4 years, despite wasting €1.2 billion on 
its  new  Terminal  2,  Dublin  Airport‘s  traffic  has  declined  from  23.5  million  in  2008,  to  18.7  million  in  2011.  
Ryanair has made a number of growth offers to Government to reverse these declines, and create thousands of new 
jobs at Dublin Airport, but so far these offers have not been taken up. 

In the UK, the Ferrovial owned BAA airport  monopoly continues to  launch  Court appeals to delay the  inevitable 
sale of Stansted Airport.  Ryanair is working with the Competition Commission to expedite the  long delayed sale of 
Stansted which will, we believe, bring about much needed competition, lower costs and better passenger service at 
Stansted, and reverse 5 years of traffic declines from 24 million in 2007 to just 18 million in 2011 under the BAA‘s 
mismanagement.  We hope now that the BAA‘s latest appeal, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in mid 
July, will finally result in the sale of Stansted before the end of 2012.  Ryanair has held discussions with a number of 
parties who are interested in bidding for Stansted and we have assured them that subject to a competitive cost base, 
Ryanair would be willing to deliver rapid traffic growth at Stansted over a 5 year period. 

Ryanair welcomes the EU‘s recent ruling that the differential Irish air travel tax in 2009 was unlawful, and we hope 
this  will  encourage  the  Irish  Government  to  repeal  what  remains  of  this  damaging  and  anti-visitor  tax.    Ryanair 
regrets  the  Spanish  Government‘s  recent  decision  to  increase  departure  taxes  at  many  Spanish  airports  (doubling 
them at Madrid and Barcelona) from 1st July.  Ryanair, and many other airlines at these airports have announced cuts 
to flights, traffic and jobs from October 2012, although we hope that the Spanish Government will change its mind 
and follow the earlier lead of the Dutch and Belgian Governments who reversed similar damaging passenger taxes.   

Our passengers 
Ryanair  delivers  Europe‘s  No.  1  passenger  service  for  the  benefit  of  our  passengers,  our  people  and  our 
shareholders.  We continue to grow delivering lower fares, better punctuality, fewer lost bags and, as a result have 
fewer passenger complaints than any other airline in Europe.   

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Despite the current EU recession, and the spread of austerity measures, Ryanair‘s lowest fares continue to encourage 
passengers  to  travel,  and  more  importantly  fly  with  Ryanair.    Ryanair  beats  every  other  airline  on  price  on  every 
flight,  every route, every day.  We have grown to carry over 75.8 million passengers in the past year and IATA‘s 
2011  traffic  statistics  confirm  that  Ryanair  carriers  far  more  international  passengers  than  any  other  scheduled 
airline,  making  Ryanair  the  ―world‘s‖  favourite  airline.    Over  the  past  year,  Ryanair  welcomed  75.8  million 
passengers onboard, at an average fare of just €45.  These passengers saved an average of €7.6 billion over the high 
fares charged by our competitor‘s incl. Air France, British Airways, Easyjet and Lufthansa.   

Ryanair‘s growth and profitability is not based solely on price.  In addition to the lowest fares in every market last 
year, Ryanair also delivered: 

1.  The best punctuality – 91% of flights on-time (up 6%). 

2.  The fewest lost bags – We lost less than 1 bag for every 4,000 passengers carried, an improvement on the prior 

year. 

3.  The fewest complaints – Last year we received less than 1 complaint per 2,000 passengers, an improvement on 

the prior year. 

4.  The youngest fleet – the average age of our 294 aircraft is under 4 years old. 

5.  Rapid passenger complaint responses – Over 99% replied to within 7 days. 

6.  The  world‟s  greenest,  cleanest  airline  –  Independent  research  confirms  Ryanair  is  the  world‘s 
greenest/cleanest airline, which allows all passengers to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by 
switching their travel choice to Ryanair. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Details of this Brighter Planet Report are available on Ryanair.com 

Our people 
Over  the  past  year  average  headcount  in  Ryanair  rose  to 8,438.   Within  this  number,  more  than  568  people  were 
promoted, as our growth created new opportunities for career progression and development.  Our people know that 
they  can  advance  their  careers  by  taking  advantage  of  Ryanair‘s  commitment  to  promote  from  within  wherever 
possible.    At  a  time  when  many  European  airlines  are  cutting  jobs,  or  closing  (as  in  the  case  of  Spanair,  Malev, 
Cimber Sterling, and OLT Express in recent months) Ryanair is proud of its long-standing record of job creation and 
internal promotions. 

Our shareholders 
Unlike  other  airlines,  Ryanair  continues  to  deliver  significant  returns  for  shareholders.    In  Ryanair  the  Board  and 
Management  team  hold  a  significant  stake  in  the  company,  which  means  we  think  and  act  like  shareholders, 
precisely because we are substantial shareholders. 

Our  2012  net  profit  of  €503  million  ($672  million)  makes  Ryanair  one  of  the  world‘s  most  profitable  airlines.  
Ryanair‘s increased profits and the substantial cash reserves means that our Board is able to recommend a second 
special  dividend  of  €0.34  (approx.  €489  million)  to  shareholders  in  late  2012,  subject  to  AGM  approval  in 
September.  The airline has completed three further share buybacks in the last year amounting to €193 million. As a 
result  of  these  two  special  dividends  and  share  buybacks,  Ryanair  has  returned  more  than  €1.53  billion  to 
shareholders over the past five years. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
It  is  remarkable  that  having  raised  just  €559  million  from  our  flotation  and  four  secondary  offers  in  1998,  2000, 
2001 and 2002 Ryanair has now returned almost 3 times this amount (over €1.53 billion) to shareholders in recent 
years. 

Ryanair  continues  to  look  for  opportunities  to  invest  our  cash  wisely.    While  we  have  no  requirement  for  new 
aircraft orders in the immediate future, we  would hope to expand the fleet with deliveries from 2015/16 onwards.  
Our discussions with manufacturers continue, but we will only order aircraft when we believe that the pricing will 
make it profitable for our shareholders to do so. 

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank our Chairman, my fellow Board members, our Managers and all the team at 
Ryanair for their hard  work over the  past 12 months,  which has helped us deliver another year of low fare traffic 
growth and record profits for the benefit of our passengers, our people and our shareholders. 

Yours sincerely 

Michael O‘Leary 
Chief Executive 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SUMMARY OPERATING AND FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA 

Pre 

Exceptional 

Exceptional  

Results 

        Items 

IFRS 

Year 

Ended 

Pre 

Exceptional 

Exceptional  

Results 

        Items 

IFRS 

Year 

Ended 

Mar 31, 

     Mar 31,  

Mar 31,  

Mar 31, 

     Mar 31,  

Mar 31,  

2012 

€M 

2012 

€M 

2012 

€M 

4,390.2 

3,504.0 
886.2 

65.3 

4,324.9 

65.3 
- 

3,438.7 
886.2 

Operating revenues 
Scheduled revenues ...........................................................................................    
Ancillary revenues .............................................................................................  
Total operating revenues 
-continuing operations 
Operating expenses 
Staff costs ......................................................................................................... . 
Depreciation .......................................................................................................  
Fuel and oil ....................................................................................................... . 
Maintenance, materials and repairs ....................................................................  
Aircraft rentals .................................................................................................. . 
Route charges ................................................................................................... . 
Airport and handling charges ............................................................................ . 
Marketing, distribution & other ........................................................................ . 
Icelandic volcanic ash related cost .................................................................... . 
Total operating expenses 
Operating profit –  
continuing operations 
Other income / (expense) 
Finance income ..................................................................................................  
Finance expense .................................................................................................  
Foreign exchange gains/(losses) ........................................................................  
Gain on disposal of property, plant   
and equipment ....................................................................................................  
Total other expense 
Profit  before tax 

415.0 
309.2 
1,593.6 
104.0 
90.7 
460.5 
554.0 
180.0 
- 
3,707.0 

44.3 
(109.2) 
4.3 

10.4 
(50.2) 
567.7 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
65.3 

617.9 

- 
- 
- 

65.3 

415.0 
309.2 
1,593.6 
104.0 
90.7 
460.5 
554.0 
180.0 
- 
3,707.0 

683.2 

44.3 
(109.2) 
4.3 

10.4 
(50.2) 
633.0 

Tax on profit on ordinary activities .................................................................. .. 

(65.1) 

(7.5) 

(72.6) 

2011 

€M 

2,827.9 
801.6 

3,629.5 

371.5 
273.0 
1,226.7 
93.9 
95.2 
410.5 
490.9 
151.6 
- 
3,113.3 

2011 

€M 

- 
- 

- 

4.6 
4.7 
0.3 
- 
2.0 
0.1 
0.9 
3.0 
12.4 
28.0 

2011 

€M 

2,827.9 
801.6 

3,629.5 

376.1 
277.7 
1,227.0 
93.9 
97.2 
410.6 
491.8 
154.6 
12.4 
3,141.3 

516.2 

(28.0) 

488.2 

27.2 
(92.2) 
(0.6) 

- 
(65.6) 
450.6 

- 
(1.7) 
- 

- 
(1.7) 
(29.7) 

27.2 
(93.9) 
(0.6) 

- 
(67.3) 
420.9 

        (49.9) 

3.6 

(46.3) 

Profit  for the period - all 
attributable to equity holders of 
parent 

502.6 

57.8 

560.4 

400.7 

(26.1) 

374.6 

Earnings per ordinary share (in € 
cent) 
Basic ................................................................................................................ .. 
Diluted ............................................................................................................. .. 

34.10 
34.03 

38.03 
37.94 

Weighted average number of 
ordinary shares (in M‟s) 
Basic ................................................................................................................. . 
Diluted ............................................................................................................. .. 

1,473.7 
1,477.0 

1,473.7 
1,477.0 

9 

           26.97    

 26.89 

1,485.7 
1,490.1 

25.21 
25.14 

1,485.7 
1,490.1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of profit for the year under IFRS to adjusted profit for the financial year 

Profit for the financial year – IFRS 

Adjustments 
One-off revenue adjustment ...............................................................  
Icelandic volcanic ash related cost......................................................  
Loss on impairment of available for sale financial asset ....................  

    Adjusted profit for the financial year 

Exceptional items 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€M 

560.4 

374.6 

57.8 
- 
- 

502.6 

- 
26.1 
- 

400.7 

The Company presents certain items separately, which are unusual, by virtue of their size and incidence, in 
the  context  of  our  ongoing  core  operations,  as  we  believe  this  presentation  represents  the  underlying  business 
more  accurately  and  reflects  the  manner  in  which  investors  typically  analyse  the  results.  Any  amounts  deemed 
―exceptional‖ for management discussion and analysis purposes, in the Chairman‘s Report and Chief Executive‘s 
Report, have been classified for the purposes of the income statement in the same way as non-exceptional amounts 
of the same nature. 

Exceptional  items  in  the  year  ended  March  31, 2012  relates  to  a  one-off  release  of  ticket  sales  revenue  of 
€57.8 million, net of tax, due to a change in accounting estimates relating to the timing of revenue recognition for 
unused passenger tickets which were made as a result of the availability of more accurate and timely data obtained 
through  system  enhancements.  Exceptional  items  in  the  year  ended  March  31,  2011  amounted  to  €26.1  million 
reflecting  the  estimated  costs  relating  to  the  closure  of  airspace  in  April  and  May  2010  due  to  the  Icelandic 
volcanic ash disruptions. 

Adjusted  profit  after  tax  excluding  exceptional  items  increased  by  25%  to  €502.6  million  compared  to 
adjusted profit after tax in the year ended March 31, 2011. Including exceptional items the profit after tax for the 
year increased by 50% to €560.4 million compared to a profit of €374.6 million in the year ended March 31, 2011. 

Summary year ended March 31, 2012 

Adjusted profit after tax increased by 25% to €502.6 million compared to €400.7 million in the year ended 
March 31, 2011 primarily due to a 16% increase in average fares and strong ancillary revenues, offset by a 30% 
increase in fuel costs. Total operating revenues increased by 19% to €4,324.9 million as average fares rose by 
16%. Ancillary revenues grew by 11%, faster than the 5% increase in passenger numbers, to €886.2 million due to 
an  improved  product  mix  and  higher  internet  related  revenues.  Total  revenue  per  passenger,  as  a  result, 
increased by 13%, whilst Load Factor decreased by 1 point to 82% during the year. 

Total operating expenses increased by 19% to €3,707.0 million, primarily due to an increase in fuel prices, 
the  higher level of activity and operating costs associated with the  growth of the airline. Fuel,  which represents 
43% of total operating costs compared to 39% in the prior year, increased by 30% to €1,593.6 million due to the 
higher  price  per  gallon  paid  and  an  11%  increase  in  the  number  of  hours  flown.  Unit  costs  excluding  fuel 
increased  by  6%  and  sector  length  adjusted,  they  remained  flat.    Including  fuel,  unit  costs  rose  by  13%.   
Operating margin remained flat at 14% whilst operating profit increased by 20% to €617.9 million. 

Adjusted net margin was up one point to 12% compared to March 31, 2011.  

Adjusted  earnings  per  share  for  the  year  were  34.10  euro  cent  compared  to  adjusted  basic  earnings  per 

share of 26.97 euro cent at March 31, 2011.                 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
               
 
 
  
 
N 
UAL REPORT & F INANCIAL STATE MENTS 2007 
Introduction 

DIRECTORS‟ REPORT 

The directors submit their Annual Report, together with the audited financial statements of Ryanair Holdings 

plc, for the year ended March 31, 2012.   

Review of business activities and future developments in the business 

The  Company  operates  a  low  fares  airline  business  and  plans  to  continue  to  develop  this  activity  by 
expanding its successful low fares formula on new and existing routes. Information on the Company is set out on 
pages 55 to 77 of the Annual Report. A review of the Company‘s operations for the year is set out on pages 77 to 
86 of the Annual Report. 

Results for the year 

Details of the results for the year are set out in the consolidated income statement on page 132 of the Annual 

Report and in the related notes to the financial statements. 

Principle risks and uncertainties 

Details  of  the  principle  risks  and  uncertainties  facing  the  Company  are  set  forth  on  pages  42  to  55  of  the 

Annual Report. 

Key performance indicators 

Details of the key performance indicators relevant to the business are set forth on pages 41; 55 to 77; and 77 to 

86 of the Annual Report. 

Financial risk management 

Details of the Company‘s financial risk management objectives and policies and exposures to market risk are                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

set forth in Note 11 on pages 156 to 166 of the consolidated financial statements.  

Share capital 

The number of ordinary shares in issue at March 31, 2012 was 1,455,593,261 (2011: 1,489,574,915;  2010: 
1,478,935,935).  Details of the classes of shares in issue and the related rights and obligations are more fully set 
out in Note 15 on pages 169 to 171 of the consolidated financial statements. 

Accounting records 

The directors believe that they have complied with the  requirements of Section 202 of the Companies Act, 
1990  with  regard  to  books  of  account  by  employing  financial  personnel  with  appropriate  expertise  and  by 
providing adequate resources to the financial function. The books of account of the Company are maintained at its 
registered office, Corporate Headquarters, Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin, Ireland. 

Company information 

The Company was incorporated on August 23, 1996 with a registered number of 249885. It is domiciled in 
the  Republic  of  Ireland  and  has  its  registered  offices  at  Corporate  Headquarters,  Dublin  Airport,  Co.  Dublin, 
Ireland. It is a public limited company and operates under the laws of Ireland. 

Staff 

At March 31, 2012, the Company‘s personnel numbered 8,388 people, including 1,636 pilots and 2,867 cabin 
crew employed on a contract basis. This compares to 8,560 people at March 31, 2011 and 7,168 people at March 
31, 2010.  

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Substantial interests in share capital 

Details  of  substantial  interests  in  the  share  capital  of  the  Company  which  represent  more  than  3%  of  the 
issued share capital are set forth on page 103 of the Annual Report.  At March 31, 2012 the free float in shares was 
96%. 

Directors and company secretary 

The  names of the director are listed on  pages 95  and 96 of the  Annual  Report.  The name of the company 
secretary is listed on page 100 of the Annual Report. Details of the appointment and re-election of directors are set 
forth on page 16 of the Annual Report.  

Interests of directors and company secretary  

The  directors  and  company  secretary  who  held  office  at  March  31,  2012  had  no  interests  other  than  those 
outlined in  Note 19 on page 176 of the consolidated financial statements in the  shares  of the Company or other 
group companies. 

Directors‟ and senior executives‟ remuneration 

The  Company‘s  policy  on  senior  executive  remuneration  is  to  reward  its  executives  competitively,  having 
regard to the comparative marketplace in Ireland and the United Kingdom, in order to ensure that they are properly 
motivated  to  perform  in  the  best  interests  of  the  shareholders.  Details  of  total  remuneration  paid  to  senior  key 
management (defined as the executive team reporting to the Board of Directors) is set out in Note 27 on page 185 
of the consolidated financial statements. 

Executive director‟s service contract 

Ryanair entered into an employment agreement with the only executive director of the Board, Mr. Michael 
O‘Leary on July 1, 2002 for a one year period to June 30, 2003. Thereafter, the agreement continues for successive 
annual periods but may be terminated with 12 months notice by either party.  Mr. O‘Leary is subject to a covenant 
not to compete with the Company within the EU for a period of two years after the termination of his employment 
with  the  Company.  Mr.  Michael  O‘Leary‘s  employment  agreement  does  not  contain  provisions  providing  for 
compensation on its termination. 

Dividend policy 

Details of the Company‘s dividend policy are disclosed on page 109 of the Annual Report. 

Share buy-back 

In August 2011, the Company bought back 27.0 million ordinary shares at a cost of €85.1 million.  In March 2012, 
the Company bought back a further 9.5 million ordinary shares at a cost of €39.5 million.  Overall this is equivalent 
to  approximately  2.5%  of  the  Company‘s  issued  share  capital.    All  ordinary  shares  repurchased  have  been 
cancelled.    Accordingly,  share  capital  decreased  by  36.5  million  ordinary  shares  with  a  nominal  value  of  €0.2 
million  and  the  capital  redemption  reserve  increased  by  a  corresponding  €0.2  million.    The  capital  redemption 
reserve  is  required  to  be  created  under  Irish  law  to  preserve  permanent  capital  in  the  Parent  Company.    Further 
details are set out in the table on page 109 of the Annual Report. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accountability and audit 

The directors have set out their responsibility for the preparation of the financial statements on page 28 to 29. 
They have also considered the going concern position of the Company and their conclusion is set out on page 25. 
The  Board  has  established  an  Audit  Committee  whose  principal  tasks  are  to  consider  financial  reporting  and 
internal control issues. The Audit Committee, which consists exclusively of independent non-executive directors, 
meets at least quarterly to review the financial statements of the Company, to consider internal control procedures 
and to liaise with internal and external auditors. In the year ended March 31, 2012 the Audit Committee met on six 
occasions.  On  a  semi-annual  basis  the  Audit  Committee  receives  an  extensive  report  from  the  internal  auditor 
detailing  the  reviews  performed  in  the  year,  and  a  risk  assessment  of  the  Company.  This  report  is  used  by  the 
Audit  Committee  and  the  Board,  as  a  basis  for  determining  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control.    The  Audit 
Committee  regularly  considers  the  performance  of  internal  audit  and  how  best  financial  reporting  and  internal 
control principles should be applied.  

In addition, the Audit Committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the 
work of the independent auditor. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services 
provided by the independent auditor. 

Social, environmental and ethical report 

See pages 101 to 102 of the Annual Report for details of employee and labour relations.  
See pages 75 to 76 of the Annual Report for details on environmental matters.  
See page 128 of the Annual Report for details of Ryanair‘s Code of Ethics. 

Air safety 

Commitment to air safety is a priority of the Company. See page 65 of the Annual Report for details. 

Critical accounting policies 

Details of the Company‘s critical accounting policies are set forth on pages 81 to 82 of the Annual Report.  

Subsidiary companies 

Details  of  the  principal  subsidiary  undertakings  are  disclosed  in  Note  27  on  page  185  of  the  consolidated 

financial statements. 

Political contributions 

During  the  financial  years  ended  March  31,  2012,  2011  and  2010  the  Company  made  no  political 

contributions which require disclosure under the Electoral Act, 1997. 

Corporate Governance Statement 

The Corporate Governance Statement on pages 15 to 26 forms part of the Directors‘ Report. 

Post balance sheet events 

Details of significant post balance sheet events are set forth in Note 26 on page 184 of the consolidated financial 

statements.  

On June 19, 2012 Ryanair announced its intention to  make an all cash offer of €1.30 per share for the entire 

issued share capital of Aer Lingus Group plc. 

Auditor 

In accordance with Section 160(2) of the Companies Act 1963, the auditor KPMG, Chartered Accountants, 

will continue in office. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
Annual General Meeting 

The Annual General Meeting will be held on September 21, 2012 at 9am in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dublin 

Airport, Co. Dublin, Ireland.  

On behalf of the Board 

Mr. David Bonderman 
Chairman                       
July 27, 2012 

Mr. Michael O‟ Leary 
Chief Executive 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 

Ryanair has its primary listing on the Irish Stock Exchange, a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange 
and its American Depositary Shares are listed on the NASDAQ. The directors are committed to maintaining the 
highest  standards  of  corporate  governance  and  this  statement  describes  how  Ryanair  has  applied  the  main  and 
supporting principles of the 2010 UK Corporate Governance Code (the 2010 Code) which for Ryanair,  replaced 
the June 2008 Combined Code on Corporate Governance with effect from April 1 2011.  This Report also covers 
the  disclosure  requirements  set  out  in  the  corporate  governance  annex  to  the  listing  rules  of  the  Irish  Stock 
Exchange,  which  supplements  the  2010  Code  with  additional  corporate  governance  provisions  and  is  also 
applicable to Ryanair, from April 1, 2011.   

A  copy  of  the  2010  Code  can  be  obtained  from  the  FRC‘s  website,  www.frc.org.uk.  The  Irish  Corporate 

Governance Annex is available on the Irish Stock Exchange‘s website, www.ise.ie.    

The Board of Directors 

Roles 

The  Board  of  Ryanair  is  responsible  for  the  leadership,  strategic  direction  and  overall  management  of  the 
Group.  The  Board‘s  primary  focus  is  on  strategy  formulation,  policy  and  control.  It  has  a  formal  schedule  of 
matters specifically reserved to it for its attention, including matters such as appointment of senior management, 
approval of the annual budget, large capital expenditure, and key strategic decisions. 

The  Board  has  delegated  responsibility  for  the  management  of  the  Group  to  the  Chief  Executive  and 

executive management. 

There is a clear division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive, which is set out 

in writing and has been approved by the Board.   

Chairman 

Mr.  David  Bonderman  has  served  as  the  chairman  of  the  Board  since  December  1996.  The  Chairman‘s 
primary responsibility is to lead the Board, to ensure that it has a common purpose, is effective as a group and at 
individual director level and that it upholds and promotes  high standards of integrity  and corporate  governance. 
He ensures that Board agendas cover the key strategic issues confronting the Group; that the Board reviews and 
approves  management‘s  plans  for  the  Group;  and  that  directors  receive  accurate,  timely,  clear  and  relevant 
information. 

The Chairman is the link between the Board and the Company. He is specifically responsible for establishing 
and maintaining an effective working relationship with the Chief Executive, for ensuring effective and appropriate 
communications  with  shareholders  and  for  ensuring  that  members  of  the  Board  develop  and  maintain  an 
understanding of the views of shareholders. 

While  Mr.  David  Bonderman  holds  a  number  of  other  directorships  (See  details  on  page  96),  the  Board 

considers that these do not interfere with the discharge of his duties to Ryanair.   

Senior Independent Director 

The  Board  has  appointed  Mr.  James  Osborne  as  the  Senior  Independent  Director.  Mr.  James  Osborne  is 
available to shareholders who have concerns that cannot be addressed through the Chairman, Chief Executive or 
Chief Financial Officer and leads the annual Board review of the performance of the Chairman.   

Company Secretary 

The appointment and removal of the Company Secretary is a matter for the Board. All directors have access 
to  the  advice  and  services  of  the  Company  Secretary,  who  is  responsible  to  the  Board  for  ensuring  that  Board 
procedures are complied with. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Membership 

The  Board  consists  of  one  executive  and  eight  non-executive  directors.  It  is  the  practice  of  Ryanair  that  a 
majority of the Board comprises non-executive Directors, considered by the Board to be independent, and that the 
Chairman  is  non-executive.    The  Board  considers  the  current  size  and  composition  of  the  Board  to be  within  a 
range which is appropriate.  Significant new and relevant experience has been added in the period since  the year 
ended March 31, 2011.  The composition of the Board and the principal Board Committees are set out in the table 
below. Brief biographies of the directors are set out on page 96. The Board, with the assistance of the Nomination 
Committee, keeps Board composition under review to ensure that it includes the necessary mix of relevant skills 
and experience required to perform its role. 

Each director has extensive business experience,  which they bring to bear in governing the Company. The 
Board considers that, between them, the directors bring the range of skills, knowledge and experience, including 
international  experience,  necessary  to  lead  the  Company.  The  Company  has  a  Chairman  with  an  extensive 
background  in  this  industry,  and  significant  public  company  experience.  Historically,  the  Company  has  always 
separated the  roles of Chairman and Chief Executive  for the running of the business and implementation of the 
Board‘s strategy and policy.   

Audit 

Remuneration  Nomination 

Executive 

Name 

Role 

Independent 

David 
Bonderman 
Michael 
O‘Leary 
Michael 
Horgan 
Kyran 
McLaughlin 
James R. 
Osborne 
Paolo 
Pietrogrande 
Klaus 
Kirchberger 
Charles 
McCreevy 
Declan 
McKeon 

Chairman 

Chief 
Executive 
Non 
Executive 
Non 
Executive 
Senior 
Independent 
Non 
Executive 
Non 
Executive 
Non 
Executive 
Non 
Executive 

Yes 

No 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Years 
on 
board 

16 

16 

11 

11 

16 

11 

10 

2 

2 

- 

- 

- 

Chair* 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Member 

Chair 

- 

- 

Member 

Member 

Member** 

Member/ 
Chair*** 

- 

- 

Air 
Safety 

- 

- 

Chair 

Chair 

Member 

Member 

- 

- 

Chair 

Member 

Member 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Member 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

*   Kyran McLaughlin retired from the Audit Committee from December 2011.   
** Charles McCreevy was appointed to the Audit Committee effective January 2012.   
***Declan McKeon was appointed as Chairman of the Audit Committee effective December 2011.   

Appointment 

Directors  can  only  be  appointed  following  selection  by  the  Nomination  Committee  and  approval  by  the 
Board  and  must  be  elected  by  the  shareholders  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  following  their  appointment. 
Ryanair‘s Articles of Association require that all of the directors retire and offer themselves for re-election within 
a  three-year  period.  One  third  (rounded  down  to  the  next  whole  number  if  it  is  a  fractional  number)  of  the 
directors (being the directors who have been longest in office) will retire by rotation and be eligible for re-election 
at every Annual General Meeting. Accordingly Mr. Michael Horgan and Mr. Kyran McLaughlin will be retiring, 
and  will  be  eligible  to  offer  themselves  for  re-election  at  the  AGM  on  September  21,  2012.    Mr.  Paolo 
Pietrogrande will also be retiring,  but will not be offering himself for re-election at the next AGM. 

In accordance with the recommendations of the  2010 Code, Mr. Declan McKeon is Chairman of the Audit 
Committee  and  Mr.  James  Osborne,  the  senior  non-executive  director,  is  Chairman  of  the  Remuneration 
Committee. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Management regularly briefs the Board including new members in relation to operating, financial and 
strategic issues concerning the Company. The Board also have direct access to senior management as required in 
relation  to  any  issues  they  have  concerning  the  operation  of  the  Company.  The  terms  and  conditions  of 
appointment  of  non-executive  directors  are  set  out  in  their  letters  of  appointment,  which  are  available  for 
inspection at the Company‘s registered office during normal office  hours and at the Annual General Meeting of 
the Company. 

Independence 

The Board has carried out its annual evaluation of the independence of each of its non-executive directors, 
taking  account  of  the  relevant  provisions  of  the  2010  Code,  namely,  whether  the  directors  are  independent  in 
character and judgement and free from relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect, or could appear to 
affect, the directors‘ judgment. The Board regards all of the directors as independent and that no one individual or 
one grouping exerts an undue influence on others.  

The  Board  has  considered  Mr.  Kyran  McLaughlin's  independence  given  his  role  as  Deputy  Chairman  and 
Head  of  Capital  Markets  at  Davy  Stockbrokers.  Davy  Stockbrokers  are  one  of  Ryanair's  corporate  brokers  and 
provide corporate advisory services to Ryanair from time to time. The Board has considered the fees paid to Davy 
Stockbrokers for these services and believe that they are immaterial to both Ryanair and Davy Stockbrokers given 
the size of each organisation's business operations and financial results. Having considered this relationship, the 
Board has concluded that Mr.  Kyran  McLaughlin continues to be an independent non-executive director  within 
the spirit and meaning of the 2010 Code Rules. 

The Board has also considered the independence of Mr. David Bonderman given his shareholding in Ryanair 
Holdings  plc.  As  at  March,  31  2012,  Mr.  David  Bonderman  had  a  beneficial  shareholding  in  the  Company  of 
9,230,671 ordinary shares, equivalent to 0.63% of the issued share capital. Having considered this shareholding in 
light of the number of issued shares in Ryanair Holdings plc and the financial interest of the director, the Board 
has concluded that the interest is not so material as to breach the spirit of the independence rule contained in the 
2010 Code.  

The  Board  has  further  considered  the  independence  of  Mr.  David  Bonderman,  Mr.  James  Osborne,  Mr. 
Kyran McLaughlin, Mr. Michael Horgan, Mr. Klaus Kirchberger and Mr. Paolo Pietrogrande as they have each 
served  more  than  nine  years  on  the  Board.  The  Board  considers  that  each  of  these  directors  is  independent  in 
character and judgment as each has other significant commercial and professional commitments and each brings 
his own level of senior experience gained in their fields of international business and professional practice. When 
arriving at this decision, the Board has taken into account the comments made by the FRC in their report dated 
December, 2009 on their review of the impact and effectiveness of the 2010 Code, in particular their comment that 
independence is not the primary consideration  when assessing  the composition of the  Board, and that the over-
riding consideration should be that the Board is fit for purpose. For these reasons, and also because each director‘s 
independence is considered annually by the Board, the Board considers it appropriate that these directors have not 
been offered for annual re-election as is recommended by the 2010 Code. 

Board Procedures 

All directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary and the Board has established 
a  procedure  whereby directors  wishing to obtain advice in the  furtherance of their duties  may take independent 
professional advice at the Company‘s expense. 

Directors  meet  with  key  executives  with  a  particular  focus  on  ensuring  non-executive  directors  are  fully 
informed  on  issues  of  relevance  to  Ryanair  and  its  operations.  Extensive  papers  on  key  business  issues  are 
provided to all directors in connection with the Board meetings. All directors are encouraged to update and refresh 
their skills and knowledge, for example, through attending courses on technical areas or external briefings for non-
executive directors. 

The  Company  has  Directors  &  Officers  liability  insurance  in  place  in  respect  of  any  legal  actions  taken 
against the directors in the course of the exercise of their duties.  New non-executive directors are encouraged to 
meet the executive director and senior management for briefing on the Company‘s developments and plans. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meetings 

The  Board  meets  at  least  on  a  quarterly  basis  and  in  the  year  to  March  31,  2012  the  Board  met  on  nine 
occasions.  Individual attendance at these  meetings is set out in the  table  on  page  22. Detailed Board papers are 
circulated in advance so that Board members have adequate time and information to be able to participate fully at 
the meeting. 

The  holding  of  detailed  regular  Board  meetings  and  the  fact  that  many  matters  require  Board  approval, 
indicate that the running of the Company is firmly in the hands of the Board.  The non-executive directors meet 
periodically without executives being present. Led by the senior independent director, the non-executive directors 
will meet without the chairman present at least annually to appraise the chairman‘s performance and on such other 
occasions as are deemed appropriate.   

Remuneration 

Details of remuneration paid to the directors are set out in Note 19 to the consolidated Financial Statements 
on pages 174 to 176. Also, please see the Report of the Remuneration Committee on Directors‘ Remuneration on 
page 27. 

Non-executive directors 

Non-executive directors are remunerated by way of directors‘ fees and share options. While the 2010 Code 
notes that the remuneration of the non-executive director should not include share options, the Board believes that 
the  quantum  of  options  granted  to  non-executive  directors  is  not  so  significant  as  to  raise  any  issue  concerning 
their independence. Mr. Michael Horgan is remunerated on a consultancy basis on safety issues and also by way of 
share options.   

Full  details  are  disclosed  in  Note  19(b)  and  19(d)  on  pages  175  to  176  of  the  consolidated  financial 

statements. 

Executive director remuneration 

The  Chief  Executive  of  the  Company  is  the  only  executive  director  on  the  Board.  In  addition  to  his  base 
salary  he  is  eligible  for  a  performance  bonus  of  up  to  50%  of  salary  and  other  bonuses  dependent  upon  the 
achievement of certain financial targets and a pension. It is considered that the shareholding of the Chief Executive 
acts  to  align  his  interests  with  those  of  shareholders  and  gives  him  a  keen  incentive  to  perform  to  the  highest 
levels.   

Full details of the executive director‘s remuneration are set out in Note 19(a) on page 175 of the consolidated 

financial statements. 

Share Ownership and Dealing 

Details of the directors‘ interests in Ryanair shares are set out in Note 19(d) on page 176 of the consolidated 

financial statements. 

The Board has adopted The Model Code, as set out in the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange and the 
UK Listing Authority, as the code of dealings applicable to dealings in Ryanair shares by  directors and relevant 
Company employees. The code of dealing also includes provisions which are intended to ensure compliance with 
US securities laws and regulations of the NASDAQ National market.  Under the policy, directors are required to 
obtain clearance from the Chairman or Chief Executive before dealing in Ryanair shares, whilst relevant Company 
employees  must  obtain  clearance  from  designated  senior  management  and  are  prohibited  from  dealing  in  the 
shares  during  prohibited  periods  as  defined  by  the  Listing  Rules  and  at  any  time  at  which  the  individual  is  in 
possession of inside information (as defined in the Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005). 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board Succession and Structure  

The Board plans for its own succession with guidance from the Nomination Committee. The Nomination Committee 
regularly review the structure, size and composition (including the skills, knowledge and experience) required of the 
Board compared to its current position with regard to the strategic needs of Ryanair and recommends changes to the 
Board.  The  Nomination  Committee  consider  candidates  for  the  Board  on  merit  and  against  objective  criteria  to 
ensure that candidates have the skills, knowledge and expertise required by the Board, taking care that appointees 
have enough time available to devote to the position.  

The  Board  currently  comprises  of  nine  directors,  Chief  Executive  Officer  Mr.  Michael  O‘  Leary  is  the  only 
executive  director. The  eight  non-executive  directors include Chairman  Mr.  David Bonderman. Biographies of all 
current directors are set out on pages 96 of this report. Ryanair considers that the Board has the correct balance and 
depth  of  skills,  knowledge,  expertise  and  experience  to  optimally  lead  the  Company  and  that  all  directors  give 
adequate time to the performance of their duties and responsibilities.  

Ryanair considers that all directors discharge their directorial duties with the objectivity and impartiality they have 
demonstrated since commencing their respective roles and has determined that each of the non-executive Directors 
is independent. In reaching that conclusion, Ryanair considered the character, judgement, objectivity and integrity of 
each  director  and  had  due  regard  for  the  2010  Code.  Ryanair  continually  endeavors  to  maintain  the  quality  and 
independence of its Board. Two new independent directors Mr. Charles McCreevy and Mr. Declan McKeon were 
appointed in May 2010. 

Board Committees 

The Board of Directors has established a number of committees, including the following: 

Executive Committee  

The Board of Directors established the Executive Committee in August 1996. The Executive Committee can 
exercise the powers exercisable by the full Board of Directors in circumstances in which action by the  Board of 
Directors is required but  it is impracticable to convene a  meeting of the  full  Board of  Directors. Messrs.  David 
Bonderman,  Michael  O‘Leary,  Kyran  McLaughlin  and  James  Osborne  are  the  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee. 

Audit Committee 

The Board of Directors established the Audit Committee in September 1996. The Audit Committee currently 
comprises  three  independent  non-executive  directors,  Mr.  Declan  McKeon  (Chairman),  Mr.  Charles  McCreevy 
and Mr. James Osborne, considered by the Board to be independent. The Board has determined that Mr. Declan 
McKeon is the Committee‘s financial expert.  

The Committee met six times during the year ended March 31, 2012. Individual attendance at these meetings 
is  set  out  in  the  table  on  page  22.  It  can  be  seen  from  the  director  biographies,  appearing  on  page  96,  that  the 
members  of  the  Committee  bring  to  it  a  wide  range  of  experience  and  expertise.  The  Chief  Financial  Officer, 
Finance  Director,  Financial  Controller,  Company  Secretary  and  the  Head  of  Internal  Audit  normally  attend 
meetings  of  the  Committee.    The  external  auditors  attend  as  required  and  have  direct  access  to  the  Committee 
Chairman  at  all  times.  The  Committee  also  meets  separately  at  least  once  a  year  with  the  external  auditors  and 
with the Head of Internal Audit without executive management being present. 

The role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set out in its written terms of reference, which are 

available on the Company‘s website www.ryanair.com, and include: 

  monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the Company and any formal announcements relating 
to  the  Company‘s  financial  performance,  profit  guidance  and  reviewing  significant  financial  reporting 
judgments contained in them; 

  reviewing the interim and annual financial statements before submission to the Board; 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  reviewing the effectiveness of the Group‘s internal financial controls and risk management systems;   

  monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the Company‘s Internal auditors;   

  considering and making recommendations to the Board in relation to the appointment, reappointment and 

removal of the external auditors and approving their terms of engagement; 

  making  recommendations  concerning  the  engagement  of  independent  chartered  accountants;  reviewing 
with the accountants the plans for and scope of each annual audit, the audit procedures to be utilised and the 
results of the audit;  

  approving  the  remuneration  of  the  external  auditors,  whether  fees  for  audit  or  non  audit  services,  and 

ensuring the level of fees is appropriate to enable an adequate audit to be conducted;   

  assessing  annually  the  independence  and  objectivity  of  the  external  auditors  and  the  effectiveness  of  the 
audit  process,  taking  into  consideration  relevant  professional  and  regulatory  requirements  and  the 
relationship with the external auditors as a whole, including the provision of any non audit services; and 

  reviewing  the  Group‘s  arrangements  for  its  employees  to  raise  concerns,  in  confidence,  about  possible 
wrongdoing  in  financial  reporting  or  other  matters  and  ensuring  that  these  arrangements  allow 
proportionate and independent investigation of such matters and appropriate follow up action. 

These responsibilities of the Committee are discharged in the following ways: 

  The Committee reviews the interim and annual reports as well as any formal announcements relating to the 
financial statements and guidance before submission to the Board. The review focuses particularly on any 
changes in accounting policy and practices, major judgmental areas and compliance with stock exchange, 
legal  and  regulatory  requirements.  The  Committee  receives  reports  at  the  meeting  from  the  external 
auditors identifying any accounting or judgmental issues requiring its attention;   

  The Committee also meets with external auditors to review the Annual Report, which is filed annually with 

the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;  

  The Committee regularly reviews Turnbull Risk management reports completed by management; 

  The Committee conducts an annual assessment of the operation of the Group‘s system of internal control 
based on a detailed review carried out by the internal audit department. The results of this assessment are 
reviewed by the Committee and are reported to the Board; 

  The Committee makes recommendations to the Board in relation to the appointment of the external auditor. 
Each year, the Committee meets with the external auditor and reviews their procedures and the safeguards 
which  have been put in place to ensure  their objectivity and independence  in accordance  with regulatory 
and professional requirements; 

  The Committee reviews and approves the external audit plan and the findings from the external audit of the 

financial statements; 

  On a semi annual basis, the Audit Committee receives an extensive report from the Head of Internal Audit 

detailing the reviews performed during the year and a risk assessment of the company;   

  The  Head  of  Internal  Audit  also  reports  to  the  Committee  on  other  issues  including,  in  the  year  under 
review, updates in relation to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 and the arrangements in place to 
enable employees to raise concerns, in confidence, in relation to possible wrongdoing in financial reporting 
or other matters. (A copy of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 can be obtained from the United 
States Securities and Exchange Commission‘s website, www.sec.gov); and 

  The Committee has a process in place to ensure the independence of the audit is not compromised, which 
includes monitoring the nature and extent of services provided by the external auditors through its annual 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
review of fees paid to the external auditors for audit and non-audit work. Details of the amounts paid to the 
external auditors during the year for audit and other services are set out in Note 19 on page 174. 

In  accordance  with  the  recommendations  of  the  2010  Code,  an  independent  non-executive  director,  Mr. 
Declan McKeon, is the chairman of the Audit Committee. All members of the Audit Committee are independent 
for purposes of the listing rules of the NASDAQ and the U.S. federal securities laws.  

The terms of Reference of the Audit Committee are reviewed annually.  

Remuneration Committee 

The  Board  of  Directors  established  the  Remuneration  Committee  in  September  1996.  This  committee  has 
authority to determine the remuneration of senior executives of the Company and to administer the stock option 
plans  described  below.    Senior  Management  remuneration  is  comprised  of  a  fixed  basic  pay  and  performance 
related bonuses  which are awarded based on a  combination of the achievement of individual objectives and the 
Company‘s financial performance. The Board of Directors as a whole determines the remuneration and bonuses of 
the Chief Executive Officer, who is the only executive director. Messrs. James Osborne, Paolo Pietrogrande and 
Klaus Kirchberger are the members of the Remuneration Committee. 

The  role  and  responsibilities  of  the  Remuneration  Committee  are  set  out  in  its  written  terms  of  reference, 
which are available on the  Company‘s  website  www.ryanair.com. The  terms of Reference of the  Remuneration 
Committee are reviewed annually.  

Nomination Committee 

Messrs.  David  Bonderman,  Michael  O‘Leary  and  Kyran  McLaughlin  are  the  members  of  the  Nomination 
Committee. The  Nomination  Committee  assists the Board in  ensuring that the composition of the  Board and its 
Committees is appropriate to the needs of the Company by: 

  assessing  the  skills,  knowledge,  experience  and  diversity  required  on  the  Board  and  the  extent  to  which 

each are represented; 

  establishing processes for the identification of suitable candidates for appointment to the Board; and 
  overseeing succession planning for the Board and senior management. 

The role and responsibilities of the Nomination Committee are set out in its written terms of reference, which 
are available on the Company‘s website www.ryanair.com. The terms of Reference of the Nomination committee 
are reviewed annually.  

Air Safety Committee 

The Board of Directors established the Air Safety Committee in March 1997 to review and discuss air safety 
and related issues. The Air Safety Committee reports to the full  Board of Directors each quarter. The Air Safety 
Committee is composed of Mr.  Michael  Horgan (who acts  as the  chairman), as  well as the following executive 
officers of Ryanair: Messrs. Ray Conway, Michael Hickey, David O‘Brien and Edward Wilson. 

Code of Business Conduct 

Ryanair‘s standards of integrity and ethical  values have been established and are documented in  Ryanair‘s 
Code of Business Conduct. This code is applicable to all Ryanair employees. There are established channels for 
reporting code violations or other concerns in a confidential manner. The Head of Internal Audit investigates any 
instances and reports findings directly to the Audit Committee.  The Code is available on the Company‘s website, 
www.ryanair.com.  

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attendance at Board and Committee meetings during the year ended 31 March 2012: 

Board 

Audit 

Air Safety  Remuneration  Executive  Nomination 

David Bonderman 

Michael O‘Leary 

Michael Horgan 

Kyran 
McLaughlin* 

James R. Osborne 

Paolo Pietrogrande 

Klaus Kirchberger 

Declan McKeon 

Charles 
McCreevy** 

9/9 

9/9 

9/9 

9/9 

9/9 

8/9 

9/9 

9/9 

8/9 

- 

- 

- 

5/5 

6/6 

- 

- 

6/6 

1/1 

- 

- 

4/4 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3/3 

- 

3/3 

3/3 

2/3 

- 

- 

4/4 

4/4 

- 

4/4 

4/4 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1/1 

1/1 

- 

1/1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

*   Kyran McLaughlin retired from the Audit Committee from December 2011.   

** Charles McCreevy was appointed to the Audit Committee effective January 2012. 

Performance Evaluation 

The  Board  has  established  a  formal  process  to  annually  evaluate  the  performance  of  the  Board,  that  of  its 
principal Committees, the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration committees, and that of the Chief Executive,  the 
Chairman  and  individual  non-executive  directors.  The  Board  anticipates  that  the  formal  evaluation  will  be 
completed yearly. Based on the evaluation process completed, the Board considers that the principal Committees 
have  performed  effectively  throughout  the  year.  As  part  of  the  Board  evaluation  of  its  own  performance, 
questionnaires  are  circulated  to  all  directors.  The  questionnaire  is  designed  to  obtain  directors‘  comments 
regarding  the  performance  of  the  Board,  the  effectiveness  of  Board  communications,  the  ability  of  directors  to 
contribute to the development of strategy and the effectiveness with which the Board monitors risk and oversees 
Ryanair‘s progress.  Directors are also invited to make recommendations for improvement. 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Board, reviews the evaluations of performance of the non-executive directors 
on an annual basis. The non-executive directors, led by the Senior Independent Director, meet annually without 
the Chairman present to evaluate his performance, having taken into account the views of the executive director. 
The  non-executive  directors  also  evaluate  the  performance  of  the  executive  director.  These  evaluations  are 
designed to determine whether each director continues to contribute effectively and to demonstrate commitment to 
the role. 

The  Audit,  Nomination  and  Remuneration  committees  carry  out  annual  reviews  of  their  own  performance 
and terms of reference to ensure they are operating at maximum effectiveness and recommend any changes they 
consider necessary to the Board for approval. 

The Board considers the results of the evaluation  process and any issues identified.  The above evaluations 
were conducted in May 2011 and were presented to the Board at the September 2011 Board meeting in respect of 
the year under review. 

Shareholders 

Ryanair recognises the importance of communications with shareholders. Ryanair communicates with all of 
its shareholders following the release of quarterly and annual results directly via road shows, investor days and/or 
by conference calls. The Chief Executive, senior financial, operational, and commercial management participate 
in these events.  

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
During  the  year  ended  March  31,  2012  the  Company  held  discussions  with  a  substantial  number  of 

institutional investors.   

The  Board  is  kept  informed  of  the  views  of  shareholders  through  the  executive  director‘s  and  executive 
management‘s attendance at investor presentations and results presentations. Furthermore, relevant feedback from 
such  meetings  and  investor  relations  analyst  reports  are  provided  to  the  entire  Board  on  a  regular  basis.  In 
addition,  the  Board  determines,  on  a  case  by  case  basis,  specific  issues  where  it  would  be  appropriate  for  the 
Chairman and/or Senior Independent Director to communicate directly with shareholders or to indicate that they 
are  available  to  communicate  if  shareholders  so  wish.  If  any  of  the  non-executive  directors  wishes  to  attend 
meetings with major shareholders, arrangements are made accordingly.  

General Meetings 

All  shareholders  are  given  adequate  notice  of  the  AGM  at  which  the  Chairman  reviews  the  results  and 
comments on current business activity. Financial, operational and other information on the Company is provided 
on our website at www.ryanair.com. 

Ryanair  will  continue  to  propose  a  separate  resolution  at  the  AGM  on  each  substantially  separate  issue, 
including a separate resolution relating to the Directors‘ Report and financial statements. In order to comply with 
the 2010 Code, proxy votes will be announced at the AGM, following each vote on a show of hands, except in the 
event of a poll being called. The Board Chairman and the Chairmen of the Audit and Remuneration Committees 
are available to answer questions from all shareholders. 

The Chief Executive  makes a presentation at the  Annual General Meeting on the Group‘s business and its 
performance during the prior year and answers questions from shareholders. The AGM affords shareholders the 
opportunity to question the Chairman and the Board.  

All  holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled to attend, speak and vote at  general  meetings of the  Company, 
subject to limitations described under note ―Limitations on the Right to Own Shares‖ on page 114. In accordance 
with  Irish  company  law,  the  Company  specifies  record  dates  for  general  meetings,  by  which  date  shareholders 
must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company to be entitled to attend.  Record dates are specified 
in the notes to the Notice convening the meeting.   

Shareholders  may  exercise  their  right  to  vote  by  appointing  a  proxy/proxies,  by  electronic  means  or  in 
writing, to vote some or all of their shares. The requirements for the receipt of valid proxy forms are set out in the 
notes to the Notice convening the Meeting.   

A  shareholder  or  group  of  shareholders,  holding  at  least  5%  of  the  issued  share  capital  has  the  right  to 
requisition a general meeting. A shareholder, or a group of shareholders, holding at least 3% of the issued share 
capital of the Company, has the right to put an item on the agenda of an AGM or to table a draft resolution for an 
item  on  the  agenda  of  the  general  meeting  provided  that  such  item  is  accompanied  by  reasons  justifying  its 
inclusion  or  the  full  text  of  any  draft  resolution  proposed  to  be  adopted  at  the  general  meeting.  A  request  by  a 
member to put an item on the agenda or to table a draft resolution shall be received by the company in hardcopy 
form or in electronic form at least 42 days before the AGM to which it relates.   

Notice  of the  Annual General Meeting and the  Form of Proxy are sent to shareholders at least  twenty-one 
working  days  before  the  meeting.  The  Company‘s  Annual  Report  is  available  on  the  Company‘s  website, 
www.ryanair.com. The 2012 Annual General Meeting will be held at 9am on September 21, 2012 in the Radisson 
Blu Hotel, Dublin Airport, Co Dublin, Ireland.  

All  general  meetings  other  than  the  Annual  General  Meeting  are  called  Extraordinary  General  Meetings 
(EGMs).  An  EGM  must  be  called  by  giving  at  least  twenty-one  clear  days‘  notice.  Except  in  relation  to  an 
adjourned  meeting,  three  members,  present  in  person  or  by  proxy,  entitled  to  vote  upon  the  business  to  be 
transacted,  shall  be  a  quorum.  The  passing  of  resolutions  at  a  general  meeting,  other  than  special  resolution, 
requires a simple majority. To be passed, a special resolution requires a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast. 
Votes may be given in person by a show of hands, or by proxy. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 At the Meeting, after each resolution has been dealt with, details are given of the level of proxy votes cast on 
each resolution and the numbers for, against and withheld.  This information is made available on the Company‘s 
website following the meeting.   

Risk Management and Internal Control 

The directors have overall responsibility for the Company‘s system of risk management and internal control 
and  for  reviewing  its  effectiveness.  The  directors  acknowledge  their  responsibility  for  the  system  of  risk 
management and internal control which is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve 
business objectives, and can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or 
loss.  

In  accordance  with  the  revised  FRC  (Turnbull)  guidance  for  directors  on  internal  control  published  in 
October 2005, ‗Internal Control: Revised Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code‘, the Board confirms that 
there is an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing any significant risks faced by the Group, that 
it has been in place for the year under review and up to the date of approval of the financial statements and that 
this process is regularly reviewed by the Board. 

In accordance with the provisions of the 2010 Code the directors review the effectiveness of the Company‘s 

system of internal control including: 

  Financial 
  Operational 
  Compliance 
  Risk Management 

The Board is ultimately responsible for the Company‘s system of risk management and internal controls and 
for  monitoring  its  effectiveness.  The  key  procedures  that  have  been  established  to  provide  effective  risk 
management and internal control include: 

  a strong and independent Board which meets at least 4 times a year and has separate Chief Executive and 

Chairman roles; 

  a clearly defined organisational structure  along functional lines and a clear division of responsibility and 

authority in the Company; 

  a  comprehensive  system  of  internal  financial  reporting  which  includes  preparation  of  detailed  monthly 
management accounts, providing key performance indicators and financial results for each major function 
within the Company; 

  preparation and issue of financial reports to shareholders and the markets, including the Annual Report and 
consolidated financial statements, is overseen by the Audit Committee. The Company‘s financial reporting 
process  is  controlled  using  documented  accounting  policies  and  reporting  formats,  supplemented  by 
detailed  instructions  and  guidance  on  reporting  requirements.  The  Company‘s  processes  support  the 
integrity and quality of data, including appropriate segregation of duties. The financial information of the 
parent  entity  and  all  subsidiary  entities,  which  form  the  basis  for  the  preparation  of  the  consolidated 
financial statements are subject to scrutiny by Group level senior  management. The Company‘s financial 
reports, financial guidance, and Annual Report and consolidated financial statements are also reviewed by 
the  Audit  Committee  of  the  Board  in  advance  of  being  presented  to  the  full  Board  for  their  review  and 
approval; 

  quarterly reporting of the financial performance with a management discussion and analysis of results; 

  weekly Management Committee meetings, comprising of heads of departments, to review the performance 

and activities of each department in the Company; 

  detailed  budgetary  process  which  includes  identifying  risks  and  opportunities  and  which  is  ultimately 

approved at Board level; 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Board approved capital expenditure and Audit Committee approved treasury policies which clearly define 

authorisation limits and procedures; 

  an internal audit function which reviews key financial/business processes and controls, and which  has full 

and unrestricted access to the Audit Committee; 

  an  Audit  Committee  which  approves  audit  plans,  considers  significant  control  matters  raised  by 
management  and  the  internal  and  external  auditors  and  which  is  actively  monitoring  the  Company‘s 
compliance with section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002; 

  established systems and procedures to identify, control and report on key risks. Exposure to these risks is 

monitored by the Audit Committee and the Management Committee; and 

  a risk management programme in place throughout the Company whereby executive management reviews 
and  monitors  the  controls  in  place,  both  financial  and  non  financial,  to  manage  the  risks  facing  the 
business. 

On  behalf  of  the  Board,  the  Audit  Committee  has  reviewed  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company‘s  system  of 

risk management and internal control for the year ended March 31, 2012 and has reported thereon to the Board. 

The  Board  has  delegated  to  executive  management  the  planning  and  implementation  of  the  systems  of 

internal control within an established framework which applies throughout the Company. 

Takeover Bids Directive 

Information regarding rights and obligations attached to shares are set forth in Note 15 on  pages 169 to 171 of 

the consolidated financial statements.  

Shares  in  the  Ryanair  employee  share  schemes  carry  no  control  rights  and  shares  are  only  issued  (and  gain 

voting rights) when options are exercised by employees. 

Ryanair‘s  Articles  of  Association  do  not  contain  any  restrictions  on  voting  rights.  However,  there  are 
provisions in the Articles which allow the directors to (amongst other things) suspend the voting rights of a share if 
the Board believes the number of non-qualifying nationals holding shares in Ryanair would put it in breach of the 
Air Navigation Acts and licences and permits which allow it to operate. This is not an absolute restriction and can 
only occur if the Board designates a number of shares to be so restricted.   

Ryanair has not received any notifications from shareholders (as shareholders are obliged to do) regarding any 

agreements between shareholders which might result in restrictions on the transfer of shares.   

Details of the rules concerning the removal and appointment of the directors are set  out above as part of this 

Directors‘ Report. There are no specific rules regarding the amendment of the Company‘s Articles of Association. 

Details  of  the  Company‘s  share  buy-back  programme  are  set  forth  on  page  109  of  the  Annual  Report.  The 

shareholders approved the power of the Company to buy back shares at the 2006 AGM and at subsequent AGM‘s.  

None of the significant agreements to which the Company is party to, contain change of control provisions. As 
referred  to  above  in  this  Director‘s  Report,  Mr.  Michael  O‘Leary‘s  employment  agreement  does  not  contain 
provisions providing for compensation on his termination.  

Going Concern 

After  making  enquiries,  the  directors  have  formed  a  judgment,  at  the  time  of  approving  the  financial 
statements,  that  there  is  a  reasonable  expectation  that  the  Company  and  the  Group  as  a  whole  have  adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the 
going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The directors‘ responsibility for preparing the financial 
statements is explained on page 28 and the reporting responsibilities of the auditors are set out in their report on 
page 30. 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compliance Statement 

Ryanair  has  complied,  throughout  the  year  ended  March  31,  2012,  with  the  provisions  set  out  in  the  UK 
Corporate  Governance  Code  and  the  requirements  set  out  in  the  Irish  Corporate  Governance  Annex  except  as 
outlined  below.  The  Group  has  not  complied  with  the  following  provisions  of  the  2010  Code,  but  continues  to 
review these situations on an ongoing basis: 

  Non-executive  directors  participate  in  the  Company‘s  share  option  plans.  The  2010  Code  requires  that,  if 
exceptionally, share options are granted to non-executive directors that shareholder approval should be sought 
in advance and any shares acquired by exercise of the options should be held until at least one year after the 
non-executive director leaves the board. In accordance with the 2010 Code, the Company sought and received 
shareholder approval to make certain stock option grants to its non-executive directors and as described above, 
the  Board believes the quantum of options granted to non-executive directors is  not so  significant to impair 
their independence.   

  Certain non-executive directors, namely Mr. David Bonderman, Mr. James Osborne, Mr. Kyran McLaughlin, 
Mr.  Michael  Horgan,  Mr.  Klaus  Kirchberger  and  Mr.  Paolo  Pietrogrande,  have  each  served  more  than  nine 
years on the Board without being offered for annual re-election. As described further above, given the other 
significant  commercial  and  professional  commitments  of  these  non-executive  directors,  and  taking  into 
account  that  their  independence  is  considered  annually  by  the  Board,  the  Board  does  not  consider  their 
independence to be impaired in this regard.    

On behalf of the Board 

Mr. David Bonderman 
Chairman                       
July 27, 2012 

Mr. Michael O‟ Leary 
Chief Executive 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORS‟ REMUNERATION 

The Remuneration Committee 

Details of the Remuneration Committee are set out within the Corporate Governance Statement on page  21 

of the Annual Report.  

The  role  and  responsibilities  of  the  Remuneration  Committee  are  set  out  in  its  written  terms  of  reference, 

which are available on the Company‘s website www.ryanair.com. 

All members of the Remuneration Committee have access to the advice of the Chief Executive and may, in 

the furtherance of their duties, obtain independent professional advice at the Company‘s expense. 

Remuneration Policy 

The  remuneration  policy  of  the  Company  is  to  ensure  that  the  executive  director  and  the  senior  key 
management  team  are  rewarded  competitively,  having  regard  to  the  comparative  marketplace  in  Ireland  and  the 
United  Kingdom,  in  order  to  ensure  that  they  are  properly  motivated  to  perform  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
shareholders.  Details  of  the  total  remuneration  paid  to  senior  key  management  (defined  as  the  executive  team 
reporting to the Board of Directors) are set out in Note 27 of the consolidated Financial Statements.   

Non-Executive Directors 

Details  of  the  remuneration  paid  to  non-  executive  directors  are  set  out  in  Note  19(b)  to  the  consolidated 

Financial Statements.  

Directors  can  only  be  appointed  following  selection  by  the  Nomination  Committee  and  approval  by  the 
Board  and  must  be  elected  by  the  shareholders  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  following  their  appointment. 
Ryanair‘s  Articles  of  Association  require  that  all  directors  retire  after  a  fixed  period  not  exceeding  three  years. 
Directors can then offer themselves for re-election at the Company‘s Annual General Meeting.  

None of the non-executive Directors hold a service agreement with the Company that provides for benefits 

upon termination. 

Executive Director 

The Chief Executive of the Company is the only executive director on the Board. Details of the remuneration 

paid to the Chief Executive are set out in Note 19(a) to the consolidated Financial Statements. 

The  Company  entered  into  an  employment  agreement  with  the  Chief  Executive  on  July  1,  2002  for  a  one 
year  period  to  June  30,  2003.  Thereafter,  the  agreement  continues  for  successive  annual  periods  but  may  be 
terminated  with  12  months  notice  by  either  party.  This  employment  agreement  does  not  contain  provisions 
providing for compensation on its termination. 

Performance Related Bonuses 

The Chief Executive and the key management team of the Company are eligible for a performance bonus and 

other bonuses dependent upon the achievement of certain financial targets. 

Share Options 

Details of the share options granted to executive and non-executive directors are set forth in Note 19(d) to the 

consolidated Financial Statements. 

Details of employee share option plans are set forth in Note 15(c) to the consolidated Financial Statements. 

Directors Pension Benefits 

Details  of  the  Chief  Executive‘s  pension  benefits  are  set  forth  in  Note  19(c)  to  the  consolidated  Financial 

Statements. 

Directors Shareholdings 

The interests of each Director that held office at the end of fiscal 2012, in the share capital of the Company 

are set forth in Note 19(d) to the consolidated Financial Statements. 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement of Directors‟ Responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report and the Financial Statements 

The directors are responsible for preparing the  Annual Report and the consolidated and Company financial 

statements, in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company  law  requires  the  directors  to  prepare  consolidated  and  Company  financial  statements  for  each 
financial  year.    Under  that  law,  the  directors  are  required  to  prepare  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union (EU) and 
have elected to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and as 
applied  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Companies  Acts,  1963  to  2012.  In  preparing  the  consolidated 
financial  statements  the  directors  have  also  elected  to  comply  with  IFRSs  as  issued  by  the  International 
Accounting Standards Board (IASB). 

The consolidated and Company financial statements are required by law and IFRSs as adopted by the EU, to 
present  fairly  the  financial  position  of  the  Group  and  the  Company  and  the  performance  of  the  Group.    The 
Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012 provide in relation to such financial statements that references in the relevant part 
of  these  Acts  to  financial  statements  giving  a  true  and  fair  view  are  references  to  their  achieving  a  fair 
presentation.   

In preparing each of the consolidated and Company financial statements, the directors are required to: 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;  

state that the financial statements comply with IFRSs as adopted by the EU as applied in accordance 
with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012 and IFRSs as issued by the IASB; and 

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that 
the Group and the Company will continue in business.   

Under  applicable  law  and  the  requirements  of  the  Listing  Rules  issued  by  the  Irish  Stock  Exchange,  the 
directors are also responsible for preparing a Directors‘ Report and reports relating to directors‘ remuneration and 
corporate  governance  that  comply  with  that  law  and  those  Rules.  In  particular,  in  accordance  with  the 
Transparency  (Directive  2004/109/EC)  Regulations  2007  (the  Transparency  Regulations),  the  directors  are 
required  to  include  in  their  report  a  fair  review  of  the  business  and  a  description  of  the  principal  risks  and 
uncertainties  facing  the  Group  and  Company  and  a  responsibility  statement  relating  to  those  and  other  matters, 
included below.  

The directors are responsible for keeping proper books of account that disclose with reasonable accuracy at 
any time the financial position of the Group and Company and enable them to ensure that its financial statements 
comply with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012 and, as regards the consolidated financial statements, Article 4 of 
the IAS Regulation.  They are also responsible for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard 
the assets of the Company and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. 

The  directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  of  integrity  of  the  corporate  and  financial  information 
included  on  the  Company‘s  website.  Legislation  in  the  Republic  of  Ireland  governing  the  preparation  and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.   

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Responsibility Statement, in accordance with the Transparency Regulations 

Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed on page 95 of the Annual Report confirm that, 

to the best of their knowledge and belief: 

the  consolidated  financial  statements,  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the  EU, 
give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Group at March 31, 
2012 and of its profit for the year then ended; 

the  Company  financial  statements,  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the  EU,  as 
applied  in  accordance  with  the  Companies  Acts,  1963  to  2012,  give  a  true  and  fair  view  of  the 
assets, liabilities and financial position of the Company at March 31, 2012, and  

the Directors‘ Report contained in the Annual Report includes a fair review of the development and 
performance of the business and the position of the Group and Company, together with a description 
of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.  

Also, as explained in Note 1 on page 137 of the consolidated financial statements, the Group, in addition to 
complying with its legal obligation to comply with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, has also prepared its consolidated 
financial statements in compliance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB.  The directors confirm that to the best of 
their knowledge and belief these consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities 
and financial position of the Group at March 31, 2012 and of its profit for the year then ended. 

On behalf of the Board 

Mr. David Bonderman 
Chairman                       
July 27, 2012 

Mr. Michael O‟ Leary 
Chief Executive 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor‟s Report to the members of Ryanair Holdings plc 

We  have  audited  the  consolidated  and  Company  financial  statements  (―financial  statements‖)  of  Ryanair 
Holdings plc for the year ended March 31, 2012, which comprise the consolidated and Company balance sheets, 
the  consolidated  income  statement,  the  consolidated  statement  of  comprehensive  income,  the  consolidated  and 
Company statements of changes in shareholders‘ equity, the consolidated and Company statements of cash flows 
and the related notes. These financial statements have been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. 

This report is made solely to the  Company‘s  members, as  a body, in accordance  with Section 193 of the 
Companies  Act,  1990  and  in  respect  of  the  separate  opinion  in  relation  to  International  Financial  Reporting 
Standards  (IFRSs)  as  issued  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  (IASB),  on  terms  that  have  been 
agreed. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company‘s members those matters we 
are required to state to them in an auditor‘s report and in respect of the separate opinion in relation to IFRSs, as 
issued by the IASB, those matters that we have agreed to state to them in our report, and for no other purpose. To 
the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company 
and the Company‘s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.   

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor 

The directors‘ responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance 
with  applicable  law  and  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  (EU),  and  their  separate  responsibilities  for 
electing to prepare the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB, are set 
out in the Statement of Directors Responsibilities on pages 28 to 29. 

Our  responsibility  is  to  audit  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  relevant  legal  and  regulatory 

requirements and International Standards on Auditing (United Kingdom and Ireland).  

We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and as issued by the IASB and, have been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012 and, in the case of the consolidated financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS 
Regulation.   

We also report to you, in our opinion; whether proper books of account have been kept by the Company; 
whether  at  the  balance  sheet  date,  there  exists  a  financial  situation  requiring  the  convening  of  an  extraordinary 
general meeting of the Company under Section 40(1) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983; and whether the 
information  given  in  the  Directors‘  Report  is  consistent  with  the  financial  statements.    In  addition,  we  state 
whether  we  have  obtained  all  the  information  and  explanations  necessary  for  the  purposes  of  our  audit,  and 
whether the Company balance sheet is in agreement with the books of account. 

We also report to you if, in our opinion, any information specified by law or the Listing Rules of the Irish 
Stock Exchange regarding directors‘ remuneration and transactions is not disclosed and, where practicable, include 
such information in our report.  

We are required by law to report to you our opinion as to whether the description of the main features of the 
internal  control  and  risk  management  systems  in  relation  to  the  process  for  preparing  the  consolidated  group 
financial  statements,  set  out  in  the  annual  Corporate  Governance  Statement  is  consistent  with  the  consolidated 
financial statements. In addition, we review whether the Corporate Governance Statement reflects the Company‘s 
compliance  with  the  nine  provisions  of  the  UK  Corporate  Governance  Code  and  two  provisions  of  the  Irish 
Corporate Governance annex specified for our review by the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange, and we 
report if it does not. We are not required to consider whether the Board‘s statements on internal control cover all 
risks and controls, or form an opinion on the effectiveness of the  Company‘s corporate governance procedures or 
its risk and control procedures.     

We read the other information contained in the  Annual Report, and consider whether it is consistent with 
the  audited  financial  statements.  The  other  information  comprises  only  the  Chairman‘s  and  Chief  Executive‘s 
Reports;  the  Corporate  Governance  Report;  the  Operating  and  Financial  Review;  Principle  Risks  and 
Uncertainties;  Critical  Accounting  Policies;  Directors,  Senior  Management  and  Employees;  Major  Shareholders 
and  Related  Party  Transactions;  and  the  Directors‘  Report.  We  consider  the  implications  for  our  report  if  we 
become  aware  of  any  apparent  misstatements  or  material  inconsistencies  with  the  financial  statements.  Our 
responsibilities do not extend to any other information. 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Basis of audit opinion 

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  International  Standards  on  Auditing  (United  Kingdom  and 
Ireland)  issued  by  the  Auditing  Practices  Board.  An  audit  includes  examination,  on  a  test  basis,  of  evidence 
relevant  to  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.    It  also  includes  an  assessment  of  the 
significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements, and of 
whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group‘s and Company‘s circumstances, consistently applied 
and adequately disclosed. 

We  planned  and  performed  our  audit  so  as  to  obtain  all  the  information  and  explanations  which  we 
considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements are free from material misstatement whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error.  In forming 
our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. 

Opinion 

In our opinion: 

the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU, of the state of the Group‘s affairs as at March 31, 2012 and of its profit for the year then ended; 

the  Company financial statements give a  true and fair view,  in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012 of the state 
of the Company‘s affairs as at March 31, 2012; 

the consolidated financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance  with the Companies 
Acts, 1963 to 2012 and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation; and 

  The  Company  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  Companies 

Acts, 1963 to 2012.  

Other matters 

As  explained  in  Note  1  on  page  137  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the  Group,  in  addition  to 
complying with its legal obligation to comply with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, has also prepared its consolidated 
financial statements in compliance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB. In our opinion, the consolidated financial 
statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB, of the state of the Group‘s 
affairs as at March 31, 2012 and of its profit for the year then ended. 

We have obtained all the information and explanations which we considered necessary for the purposes of 
our audit. In our opinion, proper books of account have been kept by the Company. The Company‘s balance sheet 
is in agreement with the books of account.  

In our opinion, the information given in the Directors‘ Report  and the description in the annual corporate 
governance statement of the main features of the internal control and risk management systems in relation to the 
process for preparing the consolidated group financial statements is consistent with the financial statements. 

The net assets of the Company as stated in the Company balance sheet on page 186 are more than half of 
the amount of its called up share capital, and, in our opinion, on that basis, there did not exist at March 31, 2012, a 
financial  situation  which,  under  Section  40(1)  of  the  Companies  (Amendment)  Act,  1983,  would  require  the 
convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the Company.   

Sean O’Keefe 
For and on behalf of 
KPMG 
Chartered Accountants, Statutory Audit Firm 
July 27, 2012. 
1 Stokes Place 
St. Stephen’s Green 
Dublin 2 
Ireland 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Presentation of Financial and Certain Other Information 

As  used  herein,  the  term  ―Ryanair  Holdings‖  refers  to  Ryanair  Holdings  plc.  The  term  the  ―Company‖ 
refers to Ryanair Holdings or Ryanair Holdings together with its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context requires. 
The  term  ―Ryanair‖  refers  to  Ryanair  Limited,  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Ryanair  Holdings,  together  with  its 
consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. The term ―fiscal year‖ refers to the 12-month period 
ended on March 31 of the quoted year.  The term ―Ordinary Shares‖ refers to the outstanding par value 0.635 euro 
cent per share common stock of the Company. All references to ―Ireland‖ herein are references to the Republic of 
Ireland. All references to the ―U.K.‖ herein are references to the United Kingdom and all references to the ―United 
States‖ or ―U.S.‖ herein are references to the United States of America. References to ―U.S. dollars,‖ ―dollars,‖ ―$‖ 
or ―U.S. cents‖ are to the currency of the United States, references to ―U.K. pound sterling,‖ ―U.K. £‖ and ―£‖ are to 
the  currency  of  the  U.K.  and  references  to  ―€,‖  ―euro,‖  ―euros‖  and  ―euro  cent‖  are  to  the  euro,  the  common 
currency  of  seventeen  member  states  of  the  European  Union  (the  ―EU‖),  including  Ireland.  Various  amounts  and 
percentages set out in this annual report on Form 20-F have been rounded and accordingly may not total. 

The Company owns or otherwise has rights to the trademark Ryanair® in certain jurisdictions. See ―Item 4. 
Information  on  the  Company—Trademarks.‖  This  report  also  makes  reference  to  trade  names  and  trademarks  of 
companies other than the Company. 

The  Company  publishes  its  annual  and  interim  consolidated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International  Accounting Standards Board (―IASB‖). 
Additionally,  in  accordance  with  its  legal  obligation  to  comply  with  the  International  Accounting  Standards 
Regulation  (EC  1606  (2002)),  which  applies  throughout  the  EU,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  the 
Company  must  comply  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  adopted  by  the  EU.  Accordingly,  the 
Company‘s  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  selected  financial  data  included  herein  comply  with 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  issued  by  the  IASB  and  also  International  Financial  Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the EU, in each case as in effect for the year ended and as of March 31, 2012 (collectively 
referred to as ―IFRS‖ throughout). 

The  Company  publishes  its  consolidated  financial  statements  in  euro.  Solely  for  the  convenience  of  the 
reader, this report contains translations of certain euro amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates. These translations 
should not be construed as representations that the converted amounts actually represent such U.S. dollar amounts or 
could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rates indicated or at any other rate. Unless otherwise indicated, such U.S. 
dollar  amounts  have  been  translated  from  euro  at  a  rate  of  €1.00  =  $1.3334,  or  $1.00  =  €0.7499,  the  official  rate 
published by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board in its weekly ―H.10‖ release (the ―Federal Reserve Rate‖) on March 
31, 2012. The Federal Reserve Rate for euro on July 13, 2012 was €1.00 = $1.2232 or $1.00 = €0.8175. See ―Item 3. 
Key Information—Exchange Rates‖ for information regarding historical rates of exchange relevant to the Company, 
and ―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects‖ and ―Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures 
About Market Risk‖ for a discussion of the effects of changes in exchange rates on the Company. 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information 

Except  for  the  historical  statements  and  discussions  contained  herein,  statements  contained  in  this  report 
constitute ―forward-looking statements‖ within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended  (the  ―Securities  Act‖),  and  Section  21E  of  the  U.S.  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the 
―Exchange  Act‖).  Forward-looking  statements  may  include  words  such  as  ―expect,‖  ―estimate,‖  ―project,‖ 
―anticipate,‖ ―should,‖ ―intend,‖ and similar expressions or variations on such expressions. Any filing made by the 
Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the ―SEC‖) may include forward-looking statements. 
In addition, other written or oral statements which constitute forward-looking statements have been made and may 
in  the  future  be  made  by  or  on  behalf  of  the  Company,  including  statements  concerning  its  future  operating  and 
financial performance, the Company‘s share of new and existing markets, general industry and economic trends and 
the  Company‘s  performance  relative  thereto  and  the  Company‘s  expectations  as  to  requirements  for  capital 
expenditures  and  regulatory  matters.  The  Company‘s  business  is  to  provide  a  low-fares  airline  service  in  Europe, 
and  its  outlook  is  predominately  based  on  its  interpretation  of  what  it  considers  to  be  the  key  economic  factors 
affecting  that  business  and  the  European  economy.  Forward-looking  statements  with  regard  to  the  Company‘s 
business rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and 
other factors, many of which are outside the Company‘s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially 
from such statements. It is not reasonably possible to itemize all of the many factors and specific events that could 
affect the outlook and results of an airline operating in the European economy. Among the factors that are subject to 
change  and  could  significantly  impact  Ryanair‘s  expected  results  are  the  airline  pricing  environment,  fuel  costs, 
competition from new and existing carriers, market prices for replacement aircraft and aircraft maintenance services, 
aircraft availability, costs associated with environmental, safety and security measures, terrorist attacks, actions of 
the  Irish,  U.K.,  EU  and  other  governments  and  their  respective  regulatory  agencies,  fluctuations  in  currency 
exchange rates and interest rates, changes to the structure of the euro, airport handling and access charges, litigation, 
labor relations, the economic environment of the airline industry, the general economic environment in Ireland, the 
U.K.  and  elsewhere  in  Europe,  the  general  willingness  of  passengers  to  travel,  flight  interruptions  caused  by 
volcanic ash emissions or other atmospheric disruptions, and other factors discussed herein. The Company disclaims 
any obligation to update  or revise any  forward-looking  statements,  whether as a result  of new  information,  future 
events or otherwise. 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
DETAILED INDEX 

Page 

Item 1. 

Item 2. 

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers .................................................................. 36 

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable ........................................................................................... 36 

Item 3. 

Key Information ................................................................................................................................ 36 
The Company  ............................................................................................................................................... 36 
Selected Financial Data ................................................................................................................................. 37 
Exchange Rates ............................................................................................................................................. 39 
Selected Operating and Other Data ............................................................................................................... 41 
Risk Factors ................................................................................................................................................... 42 

Item 4. 

Information on the Company ............................................................................................................ 55 
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 55 
Strategy .......................................................................................................................................................... 56 
Route System, Scheduling and Fares............................................................................................................. 60 
Marketing and Advertising ............................................................................................................................ 61 
Reservations on Ryanair.Com ....................................................................................................................... 61 
Aircraft .......................................................................................................................................................... 62 
Ancillary Services ......................................................................................................................................... 63 
Maintenance and Repairs .............................................................................................................................. 64 
Safety Record ................................................................................................................................................ 65 
Airport Operations ......................................................................................................................................... 66 
Fuel ................................................................................................................................................................ 68 
Insurance ....................................................................................................................................................... 69 
Facilities ........................................................................................................................................................ 70 
Trademarks .................................................................................................................................................... 70 
Government Regulation ................................................................................................................................. 71 
Description of Property ................................................................................................................................. 77 

Item 4A.  Unresolved Staff Comments ............................................................................................................. 77 

Item 5. 

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects ................................................................................ 77 
History ........................................................................................................................................................... 77 
Business Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 78 
Recent Operating Results .............................................................................................................................. 81 
Critical Accounting Policies .......................................................................................................................... 81 
Results of Operations .................................................................................................................................... 83 
Fiscal Year 2012 Compared with Fiscal Year 2011 ...................................................................................... 83 
Fiscal Year 2011 Compared with Fiscal Year 2010 ...................................................................................... 86 
Seasonal Fluctuations .................................................................................................................................... 89 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards ......................................................................................................... 89 
Liquidity and Capital Resources .................................................................................................................... 89 
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions .................................................................................................................... 95 
Trend Information ......................................................................................................................................... 95 
Inflation ......................................................................................................................................................... 95 

Item 6. 

Directors, Senior Management and Employees ................................................................................ 95 
Directors ........................................................................................................................................................ 95 
Executive Officers ......................................................................................................................................... 99 
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers .................................................................................... 100 
Employees and Labor Relations .................................................................................................................. 101 

Item 7. 

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions ...................................................................... 103 
Major Shareholders ..................................................................................................................................... 103 
Related Party Transactions .......................................................................................................................... 103 

Item 8. 

Financial Information ...................................................................................................................... 103 
Consolidated Financial Statements .............................................................................................................. 103 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Financial Information ........................................................................................................................ 103 
Significant Changes ..................................................................................................................................... 109 

Item 9. 

The Offer and Listing ...................................................................................................................... 110 
Trading Markets and Share Prices ............................................................................................................... 110 

Item 10.  Additional Information ................................................................................................................... 113 
Description of Capital Stock........................................................................................................................ 113 
Options to Purchase Securities from Registrant or Subsidiaries.................................................................. 113 
Articles of Association ................................................................................................................................ 114 
Material Contracts ....................................................................................................................................... 115 
Limitations On Share Ownership By Non-EU Nationals ............................................................................ 115 
Taxation ....................................................................................................................................................... 118 
Documents on Display ................................................................................................................................ 122 

Item 11.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ........................................................ 122 
General ........................................................................................................................................................ 122 
Fuel Price Exposure and Hedging ............................................................................................................... 123 
Foreign Currency Exposure and Hedging ................................................................................................... 123 
Interest Rate Exposure and Hedging ........................................................................................................... 125 

Item 12.  Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities ................................................................... 125 

PART II 

Item 13.  Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies ......................................................................... 127 

Item 14.  Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds ............................. 127 

Item 15. 

Controls and Procedures ................................................................................................................. 127 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures ............................................................................................................ 127 
Management‘s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting ............................................ 127 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting ............................................................................... 128 

Item 16. 

Reserved.......................................................................................................................................... 128 

Item 16A.  Audit Committee Financial Expert ................................................................................................. 128 

Item 16B.  Code of Ethics ................................................................................................................................. 128 

Item 16C.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services ......................................................................................... 128 

Item 16D.  Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees ...................................................... 129 

Item 16E.  Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers ......................................... 129 

Item 16F.  Change in Registrant‘s Certified Accountant.................................................................................. 129 

Item 16G.  Corporate Governance .................................................................................................................... 129 

Item 17. 

Financial Statements ....................................................................................................................... 130 

Item 18. 

Financial Statements ....................................................................................................................... 130 

PART III 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART I 

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers 

Not applicable. 

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable 

Not applicable. 

Item 3. Key Information 

THE COMPANY 

Ryanair  operates  an  ultra-low  cost,  scheduled  airline  serving  short-haul,  point-to-point  routes  largely  in 
Europe from its 51 bases in airports across Europe, which together are referred to as ―Ryanair‘s bases of operations‖ 
or  ―Ryanair‘s  bases.‖    For  a  list  of  these  bases,  see  ―Item  4.  Information  on  the  Company—Route  System, 
Scheduling and Fares.‖  Ryanair pioneered the low-fares operating model in Europe in the early 1990s. As of June 
30, 2012, the Company offered over 1,500 scheduled short-haul flights per day serving approximately 160 airports 
largely throughout Europe, with an operating fleet of 294 aircraft flying approximately 1,500 routes. The Company 
also holds a 29.8% interest in Aer Lingus Group plc (―Aer Lingus‖), which it has acquired through market purchases 
following  Aer  Lingus‘  partial  privatization  in  2006.  The  European  Commission  prohibited  Ryanair‘s  2006  tender 
offer to acquire the entire share capital of Aer Lingus and Ryanair filed an appeal with the European Court of First 
Instance  (―CFI‖).  On  July  6,  2010,  the  CFI  upheld  the  European  Commission‘s  decision.  On  June  19,  2012  the 
Company  made  its  third  offer  to  purchase  Aer  Lingus.  For  additional  information,  see  ―Item  8.  Financial 
Information—Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Matters Related to Investment in Aer Lingus.‖ A 
detailed description of the Company‘s business can be found in ―Item 4. Information on the Company.‖ 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 

The  following tables  set forth certain of the Company‘s selected consolidated financial information as of 
and for the periods indicated, presented in accordance  with IFRS. This information should be read in conjunction 
with: (i) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and related notes thereto included in Item 18; 
and (ii) ―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.‖ 

Income Statement Data: 

Fiscal year ended March 31, 

2012(a) 

2012 

2011 

2010 

2009 

2008 

(in millions, except per-Ordinary Share data) 

Total operating revenues..................  

Total operating expenses .................  

$5,853.8  €4,390.2  €3,629.5  €2,988.1  €2,942.0 
(4,942.9)  (3,707.0)  (3,141.3)  (2,586.0)  (2,849.4) 

€2,713.8 
(2,176.7) 

Operating income ............................  
Net interest (expense) income .........  
Other non-operating (expense) 

income .........................................  
Profit (loss) before taxation .............  
Taxation ...........................................  

Profit (loss) after taxation ................  
Ryanair Holdings basic earnings 
(loss) per Ordinary Share (U.S. 
cents)/(euro cent) .........................  

Ryanair Holdings diluted earnings 
(loss) per Ordinary Share (U.S. 
cents)/(euro cent) .........................  
Ryanair Holdings dividend paid per 
Ordinary Share (U.S. cents)/(euro 
cent) .............................................  

Balance Sheet Data: 

Cash and cash equivalents ...............  
Total assets ......................................  
Long-term debt, including capital 

lease obligations ...........................  
Shareholders‘ equity ........................  
Issued share capital ..........................  
Weighted Average Number of 

910.9 

(86.5) 

683.2 

(64.9) 

488.2 

(66.7) 

402.1 

(48.6) 

92.6 

(55.0) 

19.6 

844.0 
(96.8) 
$747.2 

14.7 
633.0 
(72.6) 
€560.4 

(0.6) 
420.9 
(46.3) 
€374.6 

(12.5) 

(218.1) 

(180.5) 
341.0 
(35.7) 
11.3 
€305.3  €(169.2) 

537.1 

(13.2) 

(85.0) 

438.9 
(48.2) 
€390.7 

$50.7 

38.03 

25.21 

20.68 

(11.44) 

25.84 

$50.6 

37.94 

25.14 

20.60 

(11.44) 

25.62 

n/a 

n/a 

33.57 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

2012 

2012(a) 

As of March 31, 
2011 
2010 
(in millions) 
$3,611.2  €2,708.3  €2,028.3  €1,477.9  €1,583.2  €1,470.8 
$12,002.0  €9,001.0  €8,596.0  €7,563.4  €6,387.9  €6,327.6 

2008 

2009 

$4,833.4  €3,625.2  €3,649.4  €2,956.2  €2,398.4  €2,266.5 
$4,409.2  €3,306.7  €2,953.9  €2,848.6  €2,425.1  €2,502.2 
€9.5 

€9.4 

€9.4 

$12.4 

€9.3 

€9.5 

Ordinary Shares ...........................  

1,473.7 

1,473.7 

1,485.7 

1,476.4 

1,478.5 

1,512.0 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Statement Data: 

Fiscal year ended March 31, 

2012(a) 

2012 

2011 

2010 

2009 

2008 

Net cash inflow from operating activities   $1,360.5  €1,020.3 
Net cash (outflow) from investing 

$(247.2) 

€(185.4) 

activities ...............................................  
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing 
activities ...............................................  

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash 

equivalents ...........................................  

$(206.6) 

€(154.9) 

€238.1 

€572.3 

€87.5 

€112.8 

$906.7 

€680.0 

€550.4 

€(105.3) 

€112.4 

€124.4 

(in millions) 

€786.3 

€871.5 

€413.2 

€703.9 

€(474.0) 

€(1,549.1) 

€(388.3)  €(692.3) 

______________ 
(a) Dollar amounts are translated from euro solely for convenience at the Federal Reserve Rate on March 31, 2012, of 

€1.00 = $1.3334 or $1.00 = €0.7499. 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXCHANGE RATES 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information concerning the exchange 
rate between: (i) the U.S. dollar and the euro; (ii) the U.K. pound sterling and the euro; and (iii) the U.K. pound 
sterling  and  the  U.S.  dollar.  Such  rates  are  provided  solely  for  the  convenience  of  the  reader  and  are  not 
necessarily the rates used by the Company in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements included in 
Item 18. No representation is made that any of such currencies could have been, or could be, converted into any 
other of such currencies at such rates or at any other rate.  

U.S. dollars per €1.00(a) 

Year ended December 31, 

End of 
Period 

Average 
(b) 

Low 

High 

2007 ....................................................................................................  1.458 
2008 ....................................................................................................  1.395 
2009 ....................................................................................................  1.433 
2010 ....................................................................................................  1.336 
2011 ....................................................................................................  1.296 

1.371 
1.471 
1.394 
1.326 
1.392 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Month ended 
January 31, 2012 ................................................................................. — 
February 29, 2012 ............................................................................... — 
March 31, 2012 ................................................................................... — 
April 30, 2012 ..................................................................................... — 
May 31, 2012 ...................................................................................... — 
June 30, 2012 ...................................................................................... — 
Period ended July 13, 2012 ................................................................. — 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

1.267 
1.306 
1.302 
1.306 
1.236 
1.238 
1.220 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

1.317 
1.346 
1.334 
1.333 
1.322 
1.269 
1.261 

U.K. pounds sterling per €1.00(c) 

Year ended December 31, 

End of 
Period 

Average 
(b) 

Low 

High 

2007 ....................................................................................................  0.735 
2008 ....................................................................................................  0.957 
2009 ....................................................................................................  0.887 
2010 ....................................................................................................  0.857 
2011 ....................................................................................................  0.836 

0.685 
0.797 
0.891 
0.858 
0.868 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Month ended 
January 31, 2012 ................................................................................. — 
February 29, 2012 ............................................................................... — 
March 31, 2012 ................................................................................... — 
April 30, 2012 ..................................................................................... — 
May 31, 2012 ...................................................................................... — 
June 30, 2012 ...................................................................................... — 
Period ended July 13, 2012 ................................................................. — 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

0.825 
0.830 
0.831 
0.815 
0.797 
0.799 
0.787 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

0.839 
0.848 
0.841 
0.835 
0.815 
0.812 
0.804 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K. pounds sterling per U.S.$1.00(d) 

Year ended December 31, 

End of 
Period 

Average (b) 

Low 

High 

0.504 
2007 .............................................................................................................................  
2008 .............................................................................................................................  
0.686 
2009 ....................................................................................................  0.627 
0.641 
2010 .............................................................................................................................  
0.645 
2011 .............................................................................................................................  

0.500  — 
0.546  — 
0.641  — 
0.647  — 
0.624  — 

Month ended 
January 31, 2012 .................................................................................  — 
February 29, 2012 ...............................................................................  — 
March 31, 2012 ...................................................................................  — 
April 30, 2012 .....................................................................................  — 
May 31, 2012 ......................................................................................  — 
June 30, 2012 ......................................................................................  — 
Period ended July 13, 2012 .................................................................  — 

______________ 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

0.635 
0.627 
0.625 
0.615 
0.617 
0.636 
0.637 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

0.654 
0.638 
0.640 
0.632 
0.649 
0.651 
0.649 

(a)  Based on the Federal Reserve Rate for euro. 
(b)  The  average  of  the  relevant  exchange  rates  on  the  last  business  day  of  each  month  during  the 

relevant period. 

(c)  Based on the composite exchange rate as quoted at 5 p.m., New York time, by Bloomberg. 
(d)  Based on the Federal Reserve Rate for U.K. pound sterling. 

As of July 13, 2012, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro was €1.00 = $1.2232, or 
$1.00 = €0.8175; the exchange rate between the U.K. pound sterling and the euro was U.K. £1.00 = €1.2713, or 
€1.00  =  U.K.  £0.7866;  and  the  exchange  rate  between  the  U.K.  pound  sterling  and  the  U.S.  dollar  was  U.K. 
£1.00 = $1.5549, or $1.00 = U.K. £0.6431. For a discussion of the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the 
Company‘s results of operations, see ―Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.‖ 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SELECTED OPERATING AND OTHER DATA 

The following tables set forth certain operating data of Ryanair for each of the fiscal years shown. Such 
data are derived from the Company‘s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and 
certain  other  data,  and  are  not  audited.  For  definitions  of  the  terms  used  in  this  table,  see  the  Glossary  in 
Appendix A.  

Operating Data: 
Average Yield per Revenue 

2012 

Fiscal Year ended March 31, 
          2010 
          2011 

          2009 

Passenger Mile (―RPM‖) (€) ...............  

0.059 

Average Yield per Available 

Seat Miles (―ASM‖) (€) ......................  

0.048 

Average Fuel Cost per U.S. 

Gallon (€) ............................................  
Cost per ASM (―CASM‖) (€) .................  
Operating Margin ...................................  
Break-even Load Factor .........................  
Average Booked Passenger 

2.075 
0.051 
14% 
70% 

Fare (€) ................................................  

45.36 

Ancillary Revenue per 

Booked Passenger (€) ..........................  

 11.69 

0.053 

0.045 

1.756 
0.049 
14% 
72% 

39.24 

11.12 

0.052 

0.043 

1.515 
0.047 
13% 
73% 

34.95 

9.98 

0.060 

0.050 

2.351 
0.058 
5% 
79% 

40.02 

10.21 

Other Data: 
Revenue Passengers Booked ..................  75,814,551 
58,584,451,085 
Revenue Passenger Miles .......................  
Available Seat Miles ..............................  
71,139,686,423 
Booked Passenger Load 

2012 

Factor...................................................  

82% 

Average Length of Passenger 

Haul (miles) .........................................  

771 
Sectors Flown .........................................   489,759 
Number of Airports Served at 

Period End ...........................................  

159 

Average Daily Flight Hour 

Utilization (hours) ...............................  
Personnel at Period End .........................  
Personnel per Aircraft at 

8.47 
8,388 

Period End  ..........................................  

30 

Booked Passengers per 

Personnel at Period End ......................  

9,038 

______________ 

Fiscal Year ended March 31, 
          2010 
          2011 

72,062,659 
53,256,894,035 
63,358,255,401 

66,503,999 
44,841,072,500 
53,469,635,740 

          2009 

58,565,663 
39,202,293,374 
47,102,503,388 

83% 

727 
463,460 

158 

8.36 
8,560 

31 

8,418 

82% 

661 
427,900 

153 

8.89 
7,168 

31 

9,253 

81% 

654 
380,915 

143 

9.59 
6,616 

36 

8,852 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RISK FACTORS 

Risks Related to the Company 

Changes in Fuel Costs and Fuel Availability Affect the Company’s Results and Increase the Likelihood 
of Adverse  Impact to the Company’s Profitability. Jet fuel costs are subject to wide fluctuations as a result of 
many economic and political factors and events occurring throughout the world that Ryanair can neither control 
nor  accurately  predict,  including  increases  in  demand,  sudden  disruptions  in  supply  and  other  concerns  about 
global supply, as  well as  market speculation.  For example, although they declined in  the 2010 fiscal  year, oil 
prices  increased  substantially  in  fiscal  years  2011  and  2012  and  remain  at  elevated  levels.    As  international 
prices for jet fuel are denominated in U.S. dollars, Ryanair‘s fuel costs are also subject to certain exchange rate 
risks. Substantial price increases, adverse exchange rates, or the unavailability of adequate supplies, including, 
without  limitation,  any  such  events  resulting  from  international  terrorism,  prolonged  hostilities  in  the  Middle 
East or other oil-producing regions or the suspension of production by any significant producer, may adversely 
affect  Ryanair‘s  profitability.  In  the  event  of  a  fuel  shortage  resulting  from  a  disruption  of  oil  imports  or 
otherwise, additional increases in fuel prices or a curtailment of scheduled services could result. 

Ryanair  has  historically  entered  into  arrangements  providing  for  substantial  protection  against 
fluctuations  in  fuel  prices,  generally  through  forward  contracts  covering  periods  of  up  to  18  months  of 
anticipated  jet  fuel  requirements.  Ryanair  (like  many  other  airlines)  has,  in  more  recent  periods,  entered  into 
hedging arrangements on a more selective basis. As of July 27, 2012, Ryanair had entered into forward jet fuel 
(jet  kerosene)  contracts  covering  approximately  90%  of  its  estimated  requirements  for  the  fiscal  year  ending 
March 31, 2013 at prices equivalent to approximately $1,000 per metric ton. In addition, as of July 27, 2012, 
Ryanair had entered into forward jet fuel (jet kerosene) contracts covering approximately  50% of its estimated 
requirements for the  first  half of  the fiscal  year ending March 31, 2014 at prices equivalent  to approximately 
$935 per  metric  ton,  and  had  not  entered  into  any  jet  fuel  hedging  contracts  with  respect  to  its  expected  fuel 
purchases beyond that quarter. Because of the limited nature of its hedging program, the Company is exposed to 
risks  arising  from  fluctuations  in  the  price  of  fuel,  and  movements  in  the  euro/U.S.  dollar  exchange  rate, 
especially in light of the recent volatility in the relevant markets. Any new increase in fuel costs could have a 
material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company‘s  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  In  addition,  any 
strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro could have an adverse effect on the cost of buying fuel in euro. 
As of July 27, 2012, Ryanair had hedged 90% of its forecasted fuel-related dollar purchases against the euro at a 
rate  of  $1.38  per  euro  for  the  period  to  March  31,  2013,  without,  however,  having  entered  into  any  material 
hedging  arrangements  with  respect  to  periods  thereafter.  See  ―—The  Company  May  Not  Be  Successful  in 
Raising Fares to Offset Increased Business Costs‖ below.   

No assurances whatsoever can be given about trends in fuel prices, and average fuel prices for the 2013 
fiscal year or for future years may be significantly higher than current prices. Management estimates that every 
$10 movement in the price of a metric ton of jet fuel will impact Ryanair‘s costs by approximately €1.0 million, 
taking into account Ryanair‘s hedging program for the 2013 fiscal year. There can be no assurance, however, in 
this regard, and the impact of fuel prices on Ryanair‘s operating results  may be  more pronounced. There also 
cannot be any assurance that Ryanair‘s current or any future arrangements will be adequate to protect Ryanair 
from  increases  in  the  price  of  fuel  or  that  Ryanair  will  not  incur  losses  due  to  high  fuel  prices  alone  or  in 
combination  with  other  factors.  See  ―Item  11.  Quantitative  and  Qualitative  Disclosures  About  Market  Risk—
Fuel Price Exposure and Hedging.‖ Because of Ryanair‘s low fares and its no-fuel-surcharges policy, as well as 
the Company‘s expansion plans, which could have a negative impact on yields, its ability to pass on increased 
fuel  costs  to  passengers  through  increased  fares  or  otherwise  is  somewhat  limited.  Moreover,  the  anticipated 
expansion  of  Ryanair‘s  fleet  in  2013  will  result  in  an  increase,  in  absolute  terms,  in  Ryanair‘s  aggregate  fuel 
costs. 

Based upon Ryanair‘s fuel consumption for the 2012 fiscal year, a change of $10 in the average annual 
price per metric ton of jet fuel at the prevailing euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate would have caused a change of 
approximately  €17.0 million  in  the  Company‘s  annual  fuel  costs.  Ryanair‘s  fuel  costs  in  the  2012  fiscal  year, 
after  giving  effect  to  the  Company‘s  fuel  hedging  activities,  increased  by  approximately  30%  from  the 
comparable period ended March 31, 2011, to €1,593.6 million, primarily due to higher market prices per metric 
ton  and  growth  of  the  airline.  Ryanair  estimates  that  its  fuel  costs  would  have  been  approximately 
€1,923.9 million in the 2012 fiscal year, as compared to €1,275.1 million in the 2011 fiscal year, had Ryanair 
not had any fuel hedging arrangements in place in either fiscal year. 

42 

 
 
Ryanair  Has  Decided  to  Seasonally  Ground  Aircraft.  In  recent  years,  in  response  to  an  operating 
environment characterized by high fuel prices,  typically lower  winter  yields and higher  airport charges and/or 
taxes,  Ryanair has adopted a policy of grounding a certain portion of its fleet during the winter months (from 
November  to  March).  In  the  winter  of  fiscal  year  2012,  Ryanair  grounded  approximately  80  aircraft  and  the 
Company announced in May 2012 that it intends to again ground approximately 80 aircraft during the coming 
winter.  

Ryanair‘s  adoption  of  the  policy  of  seasonally  grounding  aircraft  presents  some  risks.  While  the 
Company  seeks  to  implement  its  seasonal  grounding  policy  in  a  way  that  will  allow  it  to  reduce  losses  by 
operating flights to high cost airports at low winter yields, there can be no assurance that this strategy will be 
successful.  Additionally,  the  Company‘s  growth  has  been  largely  dependent  on  increasing  capacity,  and 
decreasing  winter  capacity  may  affect  the  overall  future  growth  of  the  Company.  Further,  while  seasonal 
grounding  does  reduce  the  Company‘s  variable  operating  costs,  it  does  not  avoid  fixed  costs  such  as  aircraft 
ownership  costs  and  some  staff  costs,  and  it  also  decreases  Ryanair‘s  potential  to  earn  ancillary  revenues. 
Decreasing  the  number  and  frequency  of  flights  may  also  negatively  affect  the  Company‘s  labor  relations, 
including  its  ability  to  attract  flight  personnel  interested  in  full-time  employment.  Such  risks  could  lead  to 
negative effects on the Company‘s financial condition and/or results of operations.  

Risks  Associated  with  the  Euro.  Ryanair  is  headquartered  in  Ireland  and  its  reporting  currency  is  the 
euro.  As  a  result  of  the  ongoing  uncertainty  surrounding  the  eurozone  debt  crisis,  there  has  been  widespread 
speculation  that  some  member  states  could  exit  the  euro  or  that  there  may  be  a  potential  break-up  of  the 
eurozone currency union, including with regard to Ireland, the country in which Ryanair is headquartered. If a 
eurozone  participating  member  state  were  to  leave  the  eurozone,  there  is  a  risk  of  contagion  spreading  to  the 
remaining members. Ryanair predominantly operates to/from countries within the eurozone and has significant 
operational and financial exposures to the eurozone that could result in a reduction in the operating performance 
of  the  Company  or  the  devaluation  of  certain  assets.    See  ―Item  4  -  Strategy  for  further  information‖.  The 
Company  has  taken  certain  risk  management  measures  to  minimise  any  disruptions,  however  these  risk 
management measures may fail to address the potential fall-out from a break-up of the euro or an exit by one of 
the eurozone members.  

Ryanair  has  cash  and  aircraft  assets  and  debt  liabilities  that  are  denominated  in  euro  on  its  balance 
sheet. In addition the positive/negative mark-to-market on derivative based transactions are recorded in euro as 
either assets or liabilities on Ryanair‘s balance sheet. A potential exit of a member state or the break-up of the 
eurozone  could  have  a  materially  adverse  effect  on  the  value  of  these  assets  and  liabilities.  In  addition  to  the 
assets and liabilities on Ryanair‘s balance sheet, Ryanair has a number of cross currency risks as a result of the 
jurisdictions  of  the  operating  business  including  non-euro  revenues,  fuel  costs,  certain  maintenance  costs  and 
insurance costs. A weakening in the value of the euro primarily against U.K. pound sterling and U.S. dollar but 
also  against  other  non-eurozone  European  currencies  and  Moroccan  Dirhams,  could  negatively  impact  the 
operating results of the Company. 

Currency  Fluctuations  Affect  the  Company’s  Results.  Although  the  Company  is  headquartered  in 
Ireland,  a  significant  portion  of  its  operations  is  conducted  in  the  U.K.  Consequently,  the  Company  has 
significant  operating  revenues  and  operating  expenses,  as  well  as  assets  and  liabilities,  denominated  in  U.K. 
pounds sterling. In addition, fuel, aircraft, insurance, and some maintenance obligations are denominated in U.S. 
dollars. The Company‘s results of operations and financial condition can therefore be significantly affected by 
fluctuations  in  the  respective  values  of  the  U.K.  pound  sterling  and  the  U.S.  dollar.  Ryanair  is  particularly 
subject  to  direct  exchange  rate  risks  between  the  euro  and  the  U.S.  dollar  because  a  significant  portion  of  its 
operating costs are incurred in U.S. dollars and none of its revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars.  

Although  the  Company  engages  in  foreign  currency  hedging  transactions  between  the  euro  and  the 
U.S.  dollar, between the euro and the U.K. pound sterling, and between the U.K. pound sterling and the U.S. 
dollar,  hedging  activities  cannot  be  expected  to  eliminate  currency  risks.  See  ―Item  11.  Quantitative  and 
Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.‖ 

The  Company  May  Not  Be  Successful  in  Increasing  Fares  and  Revenues  to  Offset  Higher  Business 
Costs. Ryanair operates a low-fares airline. The success of its business model depends on its ability to control 
costs so as to deliver low fares while at the same time earning a profit. The Company has limited control over its 
fuel costs and already has comparatively low other operating costs. In periods of high fuel costs, if the Company 
is unable to further reduce its other operating costs or generate additional revenues, operating profits are likely 
to fall. The Company cannot offer any assurances regarding its future profitability. See ―—The Company Faces 

43 

 
 
 
Significant  Price  and  Other  Pressures  in  a  Highly  Competitive  Environment‖  below  and  ―—Changes  in  Fuel 
Costs and Fuel Availability Affect the Company‘s Results and Increase the Likelihood that the Company May 
Incur Additional Losses‖ above. 

The  Company  is  Subject  to  Legal  Proceedings  Alleging  State  Aid  at  Certain  Airports.  Formal 
investigations  are  ongoing  by  the  European  Commission  into  Ryanair‘s  agreements  with  the  Lübeck,  Berlin 
(Schönefeld),  Alghero,  Pau,  Aarhus,  Frankfurt  (Hahn),  Dusseldorf  (Weeze),  Zweibrücken,  Altenburg, 
Klagenfurt,  Stockholm  (Vasteras),  Paris  (Beauvais),  La  Rochelle,  Carcassonne,  Nimes,  Angouleme,  Marseille 
and  Brussels  (Charleroi)  airports.  The  investigations  seek  to  determine  whether  the  arrangements  constitute 
illegal  state  aid.  The  investigations  are  expected  to  be  completed  in  late  2012/early  2013,  with  the  European 
Commission‘s  decisions  being  appealable  to  the  EU  General  Court.  In  addition  to  the  European  Commission 
investigations, Ryanair is facing allegations that it has benefited from  unlawful state aid in a number of court 
cases, including in relation to its arrangements with Frankfurt (Hahn) and Lübeck airports. Adverse rulings in 
these matters could be used as precedents by competitors to challenge Ryanair‘s agreements with other publicly 
owned airports and could cause Ryanair to strongly reconsider its growth strategy in relation to public or state-
owned airports across Europe. This could in turn lead to a scaling-back of Ryanair‘s overall growth strategy due 
to the smaller number of privately owned airports available for development. 

No assurance can be given as to the outcome of legal proceedings, nor as to whether any unfavorable 
outcomes  may,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  results  of  operation  or 
financial  condition  of 
information,  please  see  ―Item  8.  Financial 
Information Other Financial Information Legal Proceedings.‖ 

the  Company.  For  additional 

The  Company  Faces  Significant  Price  and  Other  Pressures  in  a  Highly  Competitive  Environment. 
Ryanair operates in a highly competitive marketplace, with a number of low-fare, traditional and charter airlines 
competing throughout the route network. Airlines compete primarily with respect to fare levels, frequency and 
dependability of service, name recognition, passenger amenities (such as access to frequent flyer programs), and 
the availability and convenience of other passenger services. Unlike Ryanair, certain of Ryanair‘s competitors 
are  state-owned  or  state-controlled  flag  carriers  and  in  some  cases  may  have  greater  name  recognition  and 
resources and may have received, or may receive in the future, significant amounts of subsidies and other state 
aid  from  their  respective  governments.  In  addition,  the  EU-U.S.  Open  Skies  Agreement,  which  entered  into 
effect  in  March  2008,  allows  U.S.  carriers  to  offer  services  in  the  intra-EU  market,  which  should  eventually 
result  in  increased  competition.  See  ―Item  4.  Information  on  the  Company—Government  Regulation—
Liberalization of the EU Air Transportation Market.‖  

The airline industry is highly susceptible to price discounting, in part because airlines incur very low 
marginal  costs  for  providing  service  to  passengers  occupying  otherwise  unsold  seats.  Both  low-fare  and 
traditional airlines sometimes offer low fares in direct competition with Ryanair across a significant proportion 
of its route network as a result of the liberalization of the EU air transport market and greater public acceptance 
of  the  low-fares  model.    Although  Ryanair‘s  Yield  per  Available  Seat  Mile  (―YASM‖)  increased  by 
approximately  10%  in  the  2012  fiscal  year  and  by  approximately  3%  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  it  decreased  by 
approximately  13%  in  the  2010  fiscal  year,  and  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  it  will  not  decrease  in  future 
periods.  

Although Ryanair intends to compete vigorously and to assert its rights against any predatory pricing or 
other  conduct,  price  competition  among  airlines  could  reduce  the  level  of  fares  or  passenger  traffic  on  the 
Company‘s routes to the point where profitability may not be achievable.  

In addition to traditional competition among airline companies and charter operators who have entered 
the low-fares market, the industry also faces competition from ground transportation (including high-speed rail 
systems)  and  sea  transportation  alternatives,  as  businesses  and  recreational  travelers  seek  substitutes  for  air 
travel. 

Changes  in  the  Display  of  the  Administration  Fee.  Following  agreement  with  certain  European 
competition and consumer protection authorities during 2012, Ryanair will incorporate its Administration Fee in 
all advertised prices and in all prices displayed during its booking process. Currently the Administration Fee can 
be avoided by passengers who use the Ryanair Cash Passport debit card as their form of payment. Following the 
change, since Ryanair offers discounted fares whereby certain fees and levies are waived, there is no certainty 
that the Administration Fee will be paid by all passengers. If a significant proportion of passengers do not pay 

44 

 
 
the  Administration  Fee,  this  change  could  result  in  a  significant  reduction  in  the  fees  collected,  which  could 
have a material adverse impact on the financial performance of Ryanair. This change to the Administration Fee 
will be effective in the UK and Italy on December 1, 2012 and elsewhere across our network shortly thereafter. 

The  Company  Will  Incur  Significant  Costs  Acquiring  New  Aircraft  and  Any  Instability  in  the  Credit 
and  Capital  Markets  Could  Negatively  Impact  Ryanair’s  Ability  to  Obtain  Financing  on  Acceptable  Terms. 
Ryanair‘s  continued  growth  is  dependent  upon  its  ability  to  acquire  additional  aircraft  to  meet  additional 
capacity needs and to replace older aircraft.  Ryanair expects to have 305 aircraft in its fleet by March 31, 2013.  
For additional information on the Company‘s aircraft fleet and expansion plans, see ―Item 4. Information on the 
Company—Aircraft‖  and  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects Liquidity  and  Capital 
Resources.‖  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  this  planned  expansion  will  not  outpace  the  growth  of  passenger 
traffic  on  Ryanair‘s  routes  or  that  traffic  growth  will  not  prove  to  be  greater  than  the  expanded  fleet  can 
accommodate.  In  either  case,  such  developments  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company‘s 
business, results of operations, and financial condition.  

Ryanair  plans  to  finance  its  remaining  purchases  of  firm-order  aircraft  (aircraft  it  is  obliged  to  buy 
under its contracts with The Boeing Company (―Boeing‖)) through a combination of bank loans, operating and 
finance leases – including via sale-and-leaseback transactions – and cash flow generated from the Company‘s 
operations. As in the past, Ryanair expects much of its financing to be supported by guarantees granted by the 
Export-Import Bank of the United States (―Ex-Im Bank‖). Nonetheless, due to the  general deterioration in the 
availability of bank credit facilities in recent years, no assurance can be given that sufficient financing will be 
available to Ryanair or that the terms of any such financing will be favorable. Any inability of the Company to 
obtain financing for new aircraft on reasonable terms could have a material adverse effect on its business, results 
of operations, and financial condition.  

In addition, the financing of new and existing Boeing 737-800 aircraft has already, and will continue 
to, significantly increase the total amount of the Company‘s outstanding debt and the payments it is obliged to 
make to service such debt. The level of outstanding debt is expected to fall, however, in fiscal year 2014 as the 
Company  has  not  entered  into  any  contracts  to  purchase  additional  or  replacement  aircraft.  Furthermore, 
Ryanair‘s  ability  to  draw  down  funds  under  its  existing  bank-loan  facilities  to  pay  for  aircraft  as  they  are 
delivered is subject to various conditions imposed by the counterparties to such bank loan facilities and related 
loan guarantees, and any future financing is expected to be subject to similar conditions. The Company currently 
has arranged financing for all 11 remaining aircraft to be  delivered in the period between the date  hereof and 
March 2013. For additional details on Ryanair‘s financings, see ―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and 
Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources.‖ 

Ryanair  has  also  entered  into  significant  derivative  transactions  intended  to  hedge  its  current  aircraft 
acquisition-related  debt  obligations.  These  derivative  transactions  expose  Ryanair  to  certain  risks  and  could 
have  adverse  effects  on  its  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition.  See  ―Item  11.  Quantitative  and 
Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.‖  

The  Company’s  Growth  May  Expose  It  to  Risks.  Ryanair‘s  operations  have  grown  rapidly  since  it 
pioneered the low-fares operating model in Europe in the early 1990s, although it only plans to grow by 4% in 
fiscal 2013. See ―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects History.‖ During the 2012 fiscal year, 
Ryanair announced 330 new routes across its network and intends to continue to expand its fleet and add new 
destinations and additional flights, which are expected to increase Ryanair‘s booked passenger volumes in the 
2013  fiscal  year  to  approximately  79  million  passengers,  an  increase  from  the  approximately  76  million 
passengers booked in the 2012 fiscal year. However, no assurance can be given that this target will in fact be 
met. If growth in passenger traffic and Ryanair‘s revenues do not keep pace with the planned expansion of its 
fleet, Ryanair could suffer from overcapacity and its results of operations and financial condition (including its 
ability  to  fund  scheduled  aircraft  purchases  and  related  debt)  could  be  materially  adversely  affected.  See  ―—
Risks Related to the Airline Industry—Volcanic Ash Emissions Could Affect the Company and Have a Material 
Adverse Effect on the Company‘s Results of Operations.‖ 

The expansion of Ryanair‘s fleet and operations, although somewhat slower than in previous years, in 
addition  to  other  factors,  may  also  strain  existing  management  resources  and  related  operational,  financial, 
management  information  and  information  technology  systems,  including  Ryanair‘s  Internet-based  reservation 
system, to the point that they  may  no longer be adequate  to support Ryanair‘s operations. This  would require 
Ryanair  to  make  significant  additional  expenditures.  Expansion  will  generally  require  additional  skilled 

45 

 
 
 
 
personnel,  equipment,  facilities  and  systems.  An  inability  to  hire  skilled  personnel  or  to  secure  required 
equipment  and  facilities  efficiently  and  in  a  cost-effective  manner  may  adversely  affect  Ryanair‘s  ability  to 
achieve growth plans and sustain or increase its profitability.  

Ryanair’s New Routes and Expanded Operations may have an Adverse Financial Impact on its Results. 
Currently,  a  substantial  number  of  carriers  operate  routes  that  compete  with  Ryanair‘s,  and  the  Company 
expects  to  face  further  intense  competition.  See  ―Item  4.  Information  on  the  Company—Industry 
Overview European Market.‖ 

When  Ryanair  commences  new  routes,  its  load  factors  and  fares  tend  to  be  lower  than  those  on  its 
established routes and its advertising and other promotional costs tend to be higher, which may result in initial 
losses that could have a  material negative  impact on the Company‘s results of operations as  well as require  a 
substantial amount of cash to fund. In addition, there can be no assurance that Ryanair‘s low-fares service will 
be accepted on new routes. Ryanair also periodically runs special promotional fare campaigns, in particular in 
connection with the opening of new routes. Promotional fares may have the effect of increasing load factors and 
reducing Ryanair‘s yield and passenger revenues on such routes during the periods that they are in effect. See 
―Item 4. Information on the  Company—Route System, Scheduling and Fares.‖ Ryanair expects to  have other 
significant cash needs as it expands, including as regards the cash required to fund aircraft purchases or aircraft 
deposits related to the acquisition of additional Boeing 737-800s, although Ryanair has only another 11 aircraft 
to finance under the terms of its purchase agreement with Boeing. There can be no assurance that the Company 
will  have  sufficient  cash  to  make  such  expenditures  and  investments,  and  to  the  extent  Ryanair  is  unable  to 
expand  its  route  system  successfully,  its  future  revenue  and  earnings  growth  will  in  turn  be  limited.  Further 
volcanic ash emissions, similar to those experienced in April and May 2010, could make consumers less willing 
and/or  able  to  travel  and  impact  the  launch  of  new  routes  or  bases.  See  ―—Risks  Related  to  the  Airline 
Industry—Volcanic  Ash  Emissions  Could  Affect  the  Company  and  Have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the 
Company‘s  Results  of  Operations.‖  See  also  ―—The  Company  Will  Incur  Significant  Costs  Acquiring  New 
Aircraft  and  the  Continued  Instability  in  the  Credit  and  Capital  Markets  Could  Negatively  Impact  Ryanair‘s 
Ability to Obtain Financing on Acceptable Terms.‖ 

 Ryanair’s Continued Growth is Dependent on Access to Suitable Airports; Charges for Airport Access 
are  Subject  to  Increase.  Airline  traffic  at  certain  European  airports  is  regulated  by  a  system  of  grandfathered 
―slot‖  allocations.  Each  slot  represents  authorization  to  take-off  and  land  at  the  particular  airport  during  a 
specified time period. Although the  majority of  Ryanair‘s  bases currently  have  no slot  allocations, traffic at a 
minority  of  the  airports  Ryanair  serves,  including  its  primary  bases,  is  currently  regulated  through  slot 
allocations. There can be no assurance that Ryanair will be able to obtain a sufficient  number of slots at slot-
controlled  airports  that  it  may  wish  to  serve  in  the  future,  at  the  time  it  needs  them,  or  on  acceptable  terms. 
There  can  also  be  no  assurance  that  its  non-slot  constrained  bases,  or  the  other  non-slot  constrained  airports 
Ryanair  serves,  will  continue  to  operate  without  slot  allocation  restrictions  in  the  future.  See  ―Item  4. 
Information  on  the  Company—Government  Regulation—Slots.‖  Airports  may  impose  other  operating 
restrictions  such  as  curfews,  limits  on  aircraft  noise  levels,  mandatory  flight  paths,  runway  restrictions,  and 
limits on the number of average daily departures. Such restrictions may limit the ability of Ryanair to provide 
service to, or increase service at, such airports. 

Ryanair‘s future growth also materially depends on its ability to access suitable airports located in its 
targeted  geographic  markets  at  costs  that  are  consistent  with  Ryanair‘s  ultra-low  cost  strategy.  Any  condition 
that denies, limits, or delays Ryanair‘s access to airports it serves or seeks to serve in the future would constrain 
Ryanair‘s  ability  to  grow.  A  change  in  the  terms  of  Ryanair‘s  access  to  these  facilities  or  any  increase  in  the 
relevant charges paid by Ryanair as a result of the expiration or termination of such arrangements and Ryanair‘s 
failure to renegotiate comparable terms or rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company‘s financial 
condition and results of operations. In Spain, the Spanish government has announced that airport charges at the 
two largest airports, Barcelona and Madrid, will increase by over 100%, while smaller increases will take place 
at smaller Spanish airports effective from July 1, 2012. Ryanair recently cancelled routes and reduced capacity 
on remaining routes  from Madrid and Barcelona, in response to  the  Spanish  government‘s decision to double 
airport taxes at the two airports. Ryanair anticipates redeploying this capacity to lower cost airports in Europe.  
For additional information see ―Item 4. Information on the Company—Airport Operations—Airport Charges.‖ 
See also ―—The Company Is Subject to Legal Proceedings Alleging State Aid at Certain Airports.‖ 

46 

 
 
 
The Company’s Acquisition of 29.8% of Aer Lingus and Subsequent Failure to Conclude a Complete 
Acquisition  of  Aer  Lingus  Could  Expose  the  Company  to  Risk.  During  the  2007  fiscal  year,  the  Company 
acquired 25.2% of Aer Lingus. The Company increased its interest to 29.3% during the 2008 fiscal year, and to 
29.8% during the 2009 fiscal year at a  total aggregate  cost of  €407.2 million. Following the acquisition of its 
initial  stake  and  upon  the  approval  of  the  Company‘s  shareholders,  management  proposed  to  effect  a  tender 
offer to acquire the entire share capital of Aer Lingus. This 2006 offer was, however, prohibited by the European 
Commission on competition grounds.   

In October 2007, the European Commission reached a formal decision that it would not force Ryanair 
to sell its shares in Aer Lingus. This decision has been affirmed on appeal. However, EU legislation may change 
in  the  future  to  require  such  a  forced  disposition.  If  eventually  forced  to  dispose  of  its  stake  in  Aer  Lingus, 
Ryanair could suffer significant losses due to the negative impact on  market prices of the forced sale of such a 
significant portion of Aer Lingus‘ shares.  

The United Kingdom‘s Office of Fair Trading (―OFT‖) wrote to Ryanair in September 2010, advising 
that  it  intends  to  investigate  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus.  Ryanair  objected  on  the  basis  that  the 
OFT‘s  investigation  was  time-barred.  On  June  15,  2012,  the  OFT  referred  the  investigation  of  Ryanair‘s 
minority stake in Aer Lingus to the U.K. Competition Commission (the ―Competition Commission‖). Ryanair 
welcomed  the  OFT‘s  decision  as  it  believes  that  the  Competition  Commission  should  find  that  since  Ryanair 
exerts no influence over Aer Lingus through its minority stake, it should not be forced to sell down its minority 
stake.  However,  the  Competition  Commission  could  order  Ryanair  to  divest  some  or  all  of  its  shares  in  Aer 
Lingus, as a result of which Ryanair could suffer significant losses due to the negative impact on market prices 
of the forced sale of such a significant portion of Aer Lingus‘ shares. 

On June 19, 2012, Ryanair announced its third offer to acquire the entire share capital of Aer Lingus 
(the ―June 19 offer‖) and immediately commenced pre-notification discussions with the European Commission 
for  the  purpose  of  preparing  a  merger  filing.    Pending  the  outcome  of  the  European  Commission‘s  review  of 
Ryanair‘s bid, on the basis of the duty of  ―sincere  cooperation‖ between the EU and the Member  States, and 
under the  EU Merger Regulation, the Competition Commission‘s investigation of  Ryanair‘s  minority stake in 
Aer Lingus cannot properly proceed. Nevertheless, Aer Lingus argued that the investigation should proceed and 
that  Ryanair‘s  June  19  offer  was  in  breach  of  certain  provisions  of  the  UK  Enterprise  Act  2002.  On  July  10, 
2012,  the  Competition  Commission  ruled  that  Ryanair‘s  bid  was  not  in  breach  of  the  UK  Enterprise  Act,  but 
nevertheless  decided  that  its  investigation  of  the  minority  stake  can  proceed  in  parallel  with  the  European 
Commission‘s  investigation  of  the  June  19  offer.    On  July  13,  2012  Ryanair  appealed  the  latter  part  of  the 
Competition  Commission‘s  ruling  to  the  UK  Competition  Appeal  Tribunal.  The  outcome  of  this  appeal  is 
currently  expected  within  a  relatively  short  timeframe  of  approximately  3-4  weeks.  Should  the  Competition 
Appeal  Tribunal  uphold  Ryanair‘s  appeal,  the  Competition  Commission‘s  investigation  will  be  suspended 
pending the EU merger review process of the June 19 offer, including any subsequent appeals. Should Ryanair‘s 
appeal  be  rejected,  the  Competition  Commission‘s  investigation  will  proceed  in  parallel  with  the  EU  merger 
review process, however the Competition Commission could not in any event attempt to frustrate the European 
Commission‘s jurisdiction and/or decisions. For more information, see  ―Item 8. Financial Information—Other 
Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Matters Related to Investment in Aer Lingus.‖ 

The change in the available for sale financial asset from €114.0  million at March 31, 2011 to €149.7 
million  at  March  31,  2012  is  comprised  of  a  gain  of  €35.7  million,  recognised  through  other  comprehensive 
income,  reflecting  the  increase  in  the  share  price  for  Aer  Lingus  from  €0.72  per  share  at  March  31,  2011  to 
€0.94 per share at March 31, 2012. All impairment losses are required to be recognized in the income statement 
and  are  not  subsequently  reversed,  while  gains  are  recognized  through  other  comprehensive  income. 
Deteriorations  in  conditions  in  the  airline  industry  affect  the  Company  not  only  directly,  but  also  indirectly, 
because  the  value  of  its  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  fluctuates  with  the  share  price.  However,  as  the  value  of  the 
Company‘s stake in Aer Lingus has already been written down to just €79.7 million (the equivalent of €0.50 per 
share as of June 30, 2009), the potential for future write-downs of that asset is currently limited to that amount. 

Labor Relations Could Expose the Company to Risk. A variety of factors, including, but not limited to, 
the  Company‘s  historical  and  current  level  of  profitability  and  its  seasonal  grounding  policy  may  make  it 
difficult  for  Ryanair  to  avoid  increases  to  its  base  salary  levels  and  employee  productivity  payments. 
Consequently, there can be no assurance that Ryanair‘s existing employee compensation arrangements may not 
be subject to change or modification at any time. The Company agreed to provide a company-wide pay increase 
of  up  to  2%  on  basic  pay  for  certain  categories  of  employees,  effective  April  1,  2011.    The  Company  paid 
increases in line with agreements previously negotiated with employee representative committees that provided 
47 

 
 
for  pay  increases  (on  average  2%)  effective  April  1,  2012.    Those  employees  not  covered  by  an  existing 
agreement  have  had  their  pay  frozen  for  a  period  of  one  year,  until  compensation  is  reviewed  again  in  April 
2013.  These  steps  may  lead  to  a  deterioration  in  labor  relations  in  the  Company  and  could  impact  the 
Company‘s  business  or  results  of  operations.  The  Company  also  operates  in  certain  jurisdictions  with  above 
average  payroll  taxes  and  employee-related  social  insurance  costs,  which  could  have  an  impact  on  the 
availability  and  cost  of  employees  in  these  jurisdictions.  Ryanair  crew  in  continental  Europe  operate  on  Irish 
contracts  of  employment  on  the  basis  that  those  crew  work  on  Irish  Territory,  (i.e.  on  board  Irish  Registered 
Aircraft). A number of challenges have been initiated by government agencies in a number of countries  to the 
applicability of Irish labor law to these contracts, and if Ryanair were forced to concede that Irish jurisdiction 
did not apply to those crew who operate from continental Europe then it could lead to increased salary, social 
insurance and pension costs and a potential loss of flexibility. In relation to social insurance costs, the European 
Parliament  has  approved  amendments  to  Regulation  (EC)  883/2004  which  will  impose  substantial  social 
insurance  contribution  increases  for  both  the  Company  and  the  individual  employees.  This  change  came  into 
effect  from  late  June  2012.  While  this  change  to  social  insurance  contributions  relates  primarily  to  new 
employees,  its  effect  in  the  long  term  may  materially  increase  Company  social  insurance  contributions  and 
could affect the Company‘s decision to operate from those high cost locations, resulting in redundancies and a 
consequent deterioration in labor relations.  For additional details see — ―Change in EU regulations in relations 
to Employers and Employee Social Insurance could Increase costs‖.   

Ryanair currently conducts collective bargaining negotiations with groups of employees, including its 
pilots, regarding pay, work practices, and conditions of employment, through collective-bargaining units called 
―Employee  Representation  Committees.‖  In  the  U.K.,  BALPA  unsuccessfully  sought  to  represent  Ryanair‘s 
U.K.-based pilots in their negotiations with the Company in 2001, at which time an overwhelming majority of 
those  polled  rejected  BALPA‘s  claim  to  represent  them.  On  June  19,  2009,  BALPA  (the  U.K.  pilots  union) 
made a request for voluntary recognition under applicable U.K. legislation, which Ryanair rejected. BALPA had 
the  option  of  applying  to  the  U.K.‘s  Central  Arbitration  Committee  (―CAC‖)  to  organize  a  vote  on  union 
recognition by Ryanair‘s pilots in relevant bargaining units, as determined by the CAC, but BALPA decided not 
to proceed with an application at that time. The option to apply for a ballot remains open to BALPA and if it 
were to seek and be successful in such a ballot, it would be able to represent the U.K. pilots in negotiations over 
salaries  and  working  conditions.  For  additional  details,  see  ―Item  6.  Directors,  Senior  Management  and 
Employees—Employees  and  Labor  Relations.‖  Limitations  on  Ryanair‘s  flexibility  in  dealing  with  its 
employees or the altering of the public‘s perception of Ryanair generally could have a material adverse effect on 
the Company‘s business, operating results, and financial condition.  

The  Company  is  Dependent  on  External  Service  Providers.  Ryanair  currently  assigns  its  engine 
overhauls  and  ―rotable‖  repairs  to  outside  contractors  approved  under  the  terms  of  Part  145,  the  European 
regulatory standard for aircraft maintenance established by the European Aviation Safety Agency  (―Part 145‖). 
The Company also assigns its passenger, aircraft and ground handling services at airports other than Dublin and 
certain  airports  in  Spain  and  the  Canary  Islands  to  established  external  service  providers.  See  ―Item  4. 
Information  on  the  Company—Maintenance  and  Repairs—Heavy  Maintenance‖  and  ―Item  4.  Information  on 
the Company—Airport Operations Airport Handling Services.‖ 

The termination or expiration of any of Ryanair‘s service  contracts or any inability to renew them or 
negotiate replacement contracts with other service providers at comparable rates could have a material adverse 
effect on the Company‘s results of operations. Ryanair will need to enter into airport service agreements in any 
new  markets it enters, and there can be no assurance that  it  will be  able to obtain the  necessary  facilities and 
services at competitive rates. In addition, although Ryanair seeks to monitor the performance of external parties 
that  provide  passenger  and  aircraft  handling  services,  the  efficiency,  timeliness,  and  quality  of  contract 
performance by external providers are largely beyond Ryanair‘s direct control. Ryanair expects to be dependent 
on such outsourcing arrangements for the foreseeable future.  

The Company is Dependent on Key Personnel. The Company‘s success depends to a significant extent 
upon the efforts and abilities of its senior management team, including Michael O‘Leary, the Chief Executive 
Officer,  and  key  financial,  commercial,  operating  and  maintenance  personnel.  Mr.  O‘Leary‘s  current  contract 
may  be  terminated  by  either  party  upon  12  months‘  notice.  See  ―Item  6.  Directors,  Senior  Management  and 
Employees—Compensation of Directors and Senior Management—Employment Agreements.‖ The Company‘s 
success also depends on the ability of its executive officers and other members of senior management to operate 
and manage effectively, both independently and as a group. Although the Company‘s employment agreements 
with  Mr.  O‘Leary  and  some  of  its  other  senior  executives  contain  non-competition  and  non-disclosure 
provisions, there can be no assurance that these provisions will be enforceable in whole or in part. Competition 

48 

 
 
for highly qualified personnel is intense, and either the loss of any executive officer, senior manager, or other 
key  employee  without  adequate  replacement  or  the  inability  to  attract  new  qualified  personnel  could  have  a 
material adverse effect upon the Company‘s business, operating results, and financial condition. 

The  Company  Faces  Risks  Related  to  its  Internet  Reservations  Operations  and  its  Announced 
Elimination  of  Airport  Check-in  Facilities.  Approximately  99%  of  Ryanair‘s  flight  reservations  are  made 
through  its  website.  Although  the  Company  has  established  a  contingency  program  whereby  the  website  is 
hosted in three separate locations, each of these locations accesses the same booking engine, located at a single 
center, in order to make reservations. 

A  back-up  booking  engine  is  available  to  Ryanair  to  support  its  existing  platform  in  the  event  of  a 
breakdown in this facility. Nonetheless,  the process of switching over to  the back-up engine could  take some 
time and there can be no assurance that Ryanair would not suffer a significant loss of reservations in the event of 
a major breakdown of its booking engine or other related systems, which, in turn, could have a material adverse 
affect on the Company‘s operating results or financial condition.  

 Since October 1, 2009, all passengers have been required to use Internet check-in. Internet check-in is 
part of a package of measures intended to reduce check-in lines and passenger handling costs and pass on these 
savings by reducing passenger airfares. See ―Item 4. Information on the Company—Reservations/Ryanair.com.‖ 
The Company has deployed this system across its network. Any disruptions to the Internet check-in service as a 
result of a breakdown in the relevant computer systems or otherwise could have a material adverse impact on 
these service-improvement and cost-reduction efforts. The result of this requirement is that Ryanair has reduced 
airport and handling costs, due to the need to have fewer check-in personnel and rented check-in desks. There 
can be no assurance, however, that this process will continue to be successful or that consumers will not switch 
to other carriers that provide standard check-in facilities, which would negatively affect the Company‘s results 
of operations and financial condition. 

The Company Faces Risks Related to Unauthorized Use of Information from the Company’s Website. 
Screenscraper  websites  gain  unauthorized  access  to  Ryanair‘s  website  and  booking  system,  extract  flight  and 
pricing  information  and  display  it  on  their  own  websites  for  sale  to  customers  at  prices  which  include 
intermediary fees on top of Ryanair‘s fares. Ryanair does not allow any such commercial use of its website and 
objects  to  the  practice  of  screenscraping  also  on  the  basis  of  certain  legal  principles,  such  as  database  rights, 
copyright  protection,  etc.  In  November  2011,  the  Company  introduced  Captcha,  a  Google  product  which 
requires passengers who wish to book flights to enter a screen code to complete their bookings.  This has had a 
positive impact and reduced the level of screenscraping.  The Company is also involved in a number of legal 
proceedings  against  the  proprietors  of  screenscraper  websites  in  Ireland,  Germany,  the  Netherlands,  France, 
Spain,  Italy  and  Switzerland.  The  Company‘s  objective  is  to  prevent  any  unauthorized  use  of  its  website, 
however  the  Company  does  allow  certain  companies  who  operate  fare  comparison  websites  to  access  the 
website provided they sign a license and use the agreed method to access the data.  The Company has received 
favorable  rulings  in  Ireland,  Germany  and  The  Netherlands.  However,  pending  the  outcome  of  these  legal 
proceedings and if Ryanair were to be unsuccessful in them, the activities of screenscraper websites could lead 
to  a  reduction  in  the  number  of  customers  who  book  directly  on  Ryanair‘s  website  and  consequently  in  a 
reduction in the Company‘s ancillary revenue stream. Also, some customers may be lost to the Company once 
they are presented by a screenscraper website with a Ryanair fare inflated by the screenscraper‘s intermediary 
fee. This could also adversely affect Ryanair‘s reputation as a low-fares airline, which could negatively affect 
the  Company‘s  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition.  For  additional  details,  see  ―Item  8.  Financial 
Information—Other  Financial  Information—Legal  Proceedings—Legal  Proceedings  Against  Internet  Ticket 
Touts.‖ 

Irish  Corporation  Tax  Rate  Could  Rise.  The  majority  of  Ryanair‘s  profits  are  subject  to  Irish 
corporation tax at a statutory rate of 12.5%. Due to the size and scale of the Irish government‘s budgetary deficit 
and the ―bailout‖ of the Irish government by a combination of loans from the International Monetary Fund and 
the  European Union, there is  a risk  that the Irish government could increase Irish  corporation  tax rates above 
12.5% in order to repay current or future loans or to increase tax revenues. 

At  12.5%,  the  rate  of  Irish  corporation  tax  is  lower  than  that  applied  by  most  of  the  other  European 
Union  member  states,  and  has  periodically  been  subject  to  critical  comment  by  the  governments  of  other  EU 
member states. Although the Irish government has repeatedly publicly stated that it will not increase corporation 
tax rates, there can be no assurance that such an increase in corporation tax rates will not occur. 

49 

 
 
In the event that the Irish government increases corporation tax rates or changes the basis of calculation 
of  corporation  tax  from  the  present  basis,  any  such  changes  would  result  in  Ryanair  paying  higher  corporate 
taxes and would have an adverse impact on our cash flows, financial position and results of operations. See ―—
Risks Related to the Company—Tax audits.‖ 

Change  in EU  Regulations in Relation to Employers and Employee  Social Insurance Could Increase 

Costs.   
The European Parliament passed legislation governing the payment of employee and employer social insurance 
costs  in  May,  2012.  The  legislation  was  introduced  in  late  June  2012.  The  legislation  governs  the  country  in 
which  employees  and  employers  must  pay  social  insurance  costs.  Presently,  Ryanair  pays  employee  and 
employer social insurance in the country under whose laws the employee‘s contract of employment is governed, 
which is at this time either the UK or Ireland. Under the terms of this new legislation, employees and employers 
must pay social insurance in the country where the employee is based. The legislation includes grandfathering 
rights which means that existing employees should be exempt.  However, both new and existing employees who 
transfer from their present base location to a new base in another EU country will be impacted by the new rules 
in relation to employee and employer contributions. Each country within the EU has different rules and rates in 
relation to the calculation of employee and employer social insurance contributions.  Ryanair estimates that the 
change in legislation will not have any initial material impact on salary costs although it could have an adverse 
impact over time. 

Tax  Audits.  The  Company  operates  in  many  jurisdictions  and  is,  from  time  to  time,  subject  to  tax 
audits, which by their nature are often complex and can require several years to conclude. While the Company 
endeavors  to  be  tax  compliant  in  the  various  jurisdictions  in  which  it  operates,  there  can  be  no  guarantee, 
particularly  in  the  current  economic  environment,  that  it  will  not  receive  tax  assessments  following  the 
conclusion of the tax audits.  If assessed, the Company will robustly defend its position.  In the event that the 
Company  is  unsuccessful  in  defending  its  position,  it  is  possible  that  the  effective  tax  rate,  employment  and 
other costs of the Group could materially increase.  

Risks Related to the Airline Industry 

The  Airline  Industry  Is  Particularly  Sensitive  to  Changes  in  Economic  Conditions;  A  Continued 
Recessionary Environment Would Negatively Impact Ryanair’s Result of Operations. Ryanair‘s operations and 
the airline industry in general are sensitive to changes in economic conditions. Unfavorable economic conditions 
such  as  government  austerity  measures,  the  breakup  of  the  eurozone,  high  unemployment  rates,  constrained 
credit  markets  and  increased  business  operating  costs  lead  to  reduced  spending  by  both  leisure  and  business 
passengers. Unfavorable economic conditions, such as the conditions persisting as of the date hereof, also tend 
to  impact  Ryanair‘s  ability  to  raise  fares  to  counteract  increased  fuel  and  other  operating  costs.  A  continued 
recessionary environment, combined with austerity measures by European governments, will likely negatively 
impact  Ryanair‘s  operating  results.  It  could  also  restrict  the  Company‘s  ability  to  grow  passenger  volumes, 
secure new airports and launch new routes and bases, and could have a material adverse impact on its financial 
results. 

 The Introduction of Government Taxes on Travel Could Damage Ryanair’s Ability to Grow and Could 
Have a Material Adverse Impact on Operations. The U.K. government levies an Air Passenger Duty (APD) of 
£13 per passenger. The tax was previously set at £5 per passenger, but it was increased to £10 per passenger in 
2007, £11 in 2009, £12 in 2010 and subsequently to £13 in April 2012.  The increase in this tax is thought to 
have had a negative impact on Ryanair‘s operating performance, both in terms of average fares paid and growth 
in passenger volumes. In 2008, the Dutch government introduced a travel tax ranging from €11 on short-haul 
flights  to  €45  on  long-haul  flights  (withdrawn  with  effect  from  July  1,  2009).  On  March  30,  2009,  the  Irish 
government  also  introduced  a  €10  Air  Travel  Tax  on  all  passengers  departing  from  Irish  airports  on  routes 
longer than 300 kilometers but subsequently reduced it to €3 on March 30, 2011. In Germany, the government 
introduced an air passenger tax of €8.00 in January 2011 which was subsequently reduced to €7.50 in January 
2012. In Austria, the government also introduced an ecological air travel levy of €8.00 in January 2011. 

Other governments also have introduced or may introduce similar taxes. See ―Item 4. Information on 
the Company—Airport Operations—Airport Charges.‖ The introduction of government taxes on travel has had 
a negative impact on passenger volumes, particularly given the current period of decreased economic activity. 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
The introduction of further government taxes on travel across Europe, could have a material negative impact on 
Ryanair‘s results of operations as a result of price-sensitive passengers being less likely to travel. 

EU Regulation on Passenger Compensation Could Significantly Increase Related Costs.  The EU has 
passed legislation for compensating airline passengers who have been denied boarding on a flight for which they 
hold  a  valid  ticket  (Regulation  (EC)  No.  261/2004).  This  legislation,  which  came  into  force  on  February  17, 
2005,  imposes  fixed  levels  of  compensation  to  be  paid  to  passengers  in  the  event  of  cancelled  flights.  In 
November 2009, the Court of Justice of the EU in the Sturgeon case decided that provisions of the legislation in 
relation to compensation are  not only applicable to flight  cancellations but also to delays of over three hours. 
However,  such  provisions,  by  their  terms,  do  not  apply  to  any  cancellation,  or  any  delay  over  three  hours,  in 
circumstances in which the airline is able to prove that such cancellation or delay was caused  by extraordinary 
circumstances, such as weather, air-traffic control delays, or safety issues. The Sturgeon case was referred to the 
Court  of  Justice  of  the  European  Union  for  a  preliminary  ruling  from  the  High  Court  of  Justice  (England  & 
Wales), Queen's Bench Division (Administrative Court) on December 24, 2010.  The Opinion of the Advocate 
General of the European Court of Justice has reinforced the legitimacy of the Sturgeon judgment.  The Opinion 
is  not  binding  on  courts  unless  reconfirmed  in  the  judgment  which  will  be  issued  at  the  end  of  2012.  The 
regulation calls for compensation of €250, €400, or €600 per passenger, depending on the length of the flight. 
As Ryanair‘s average  flight length is less than 1,500 km  – the upper limit  for short-haul flights  – the amount 
payable  is  generally  €250  per  passenger  per  occurrence.  Passengers  subject  to  long  delays  (in  excess  of  two 
hours for short-haul flights) are also entitled to ―assistance,‖ including meals, drinks and telephone calls, as well 
as  hotel  accommodations  if  the  delay  extends  overnight.  For  delays  of  over  five  hours,  the  airline  is  also 
required  to  offer  the  option  of  a  refund  of  the  cost  of  the  unused  ticket.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the 
Company  will  not  incur  a  significant  increase  in  costs  in  the  future  due  to  the  impact  of  this  legislation,  if 
Ryanair experiences a large number of cancelled flights, which could occur as a result of certain types of events 
beyond  its  control.  See  ―—Risks  Related  to  the  Airline  Industry—Volcanic  Ash  Emissions  Could  Affect  the 
Company and Have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company‘s Results of Operations.‖ 

EU  Regulation  of  Emissions  Trading  Will  Increase  Costs.  On  November  19,  2008,  the  European 
Council  of  Ministers  adopted  legislation  to  add  aviation  to  the  EU  Emissions  Trading  Scheme  (―ETS‖)  with 
effect  from  2012. This  scheme,  which  has  thus  far  applied  mainly  to  industrial  companies,  is  a  cap-and-trade 
system for CO2 emissions to encourage industries to improve their CO2 efficiency. Under the legislation, airlines 
are  granted  initial  CO2  allowances  based  on  historical  performance  and  a  CO2  efficiency  benchmark.  Any 
shortage of allowances will have to be purchased in the open market and/or at government auctions.  The cost of 
such allowances that Ryanair will have to buy in order to cover the shortage that will arise in calendar year 2012 
are estimated to be in the region of €10 million to €15 million at current market rates. The Company estimates 
that the related cost in respect of calendar year 2013 could be in the region of €15 million to €25 million but 
could increase significantly over the coming years depending on the costs of carbon credits and the Company‘s 
future  decisions  on  growth.    There  can  be  no  assurance  that  Ryanair  will  be  able  to  obtain  sufficient  carbon 
credits  or  that  the  cost  of  the  credits  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company‘s  business, 
operating results, and financial condition. 

Volcanic  Ash  Emissions  Could  Affect  the  Company  and  Have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the 
Company’s  Results  of  Operations.  Between  April  15  and  April  20,  2010  and  May  4  and  May  17,  2010,  a 
significant portion of the airspace over northern Europe was closed by authorities as a result of safety concerns 
presented by emissions of ash from an Icelandic volcano. This closure forced Ryanair to cancel 9,490 flights. In 
May 2011, there were further periodic closures of parts of the European airspace due to emissions of ash from 
another Icelandic volcano, which resulted in the cancellation of 96 flights. 

Under  the  terms  of  Regulation  (EC)  No.  261/2004,  described  above,  Ryanair  has  certain  duties  to 
passengers whose flights are cancelled. In particular, Ryanair is required to reimburse passengers who have had 
their flights cancelled for certain reasonable, documented expenses – primarily for accommodation and food. As 
of the date hereof, the Company is uncertain as to the number of claims it will receive or the amount it will have 
to reimburse passengers in respect of these claims, (as there is currently no time limitation on claims specified in 
the  Regulation)  but  the  Company  expects  that  the  amount  will  not  be  significant.  The  Company  to  date 
estimates  that  the  non-recoverable  fixed  costs  associated  with  the  cancellations,  the  repositioning  costs  for 
aircraft, and other costs associated with cancellations, as well as the aforementioned reimbursement claims for 
the initial 20 days of closure of European aerospace will amount to approximately €29 million for such periods 
of closure. The Company has re-accommodated or refunded fares to approximately 1.5 million passengers due 
to flight cancellations.  

51 

 
 
Volcanic  emissions  may  happen  again  and  could  lead  to  further  significant  flight  cancellation  costs 
which  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  the  Company‘s  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations. 
Furthermore, volcanic emissions (whether from current or new sources) or similar atmospheric disturbances and 
resulting cancellations due to the closure of airports could also have a material adverse affect on the Company‘s 
financial performance indirectly, as a consequence of changes in the public‘s willingness to travel within Europe 
due to the risk of flight disruptions.  

Any Significant Outbreak of any Airborne Disease, Including Swine Flu or Foot-and-Mouth Disease, 
Could  Significantly  Damage  Ryanair’s  Business.  Worldwide,  there  has,  from  time  to  time,  been  substantial 
publicity in recent years regarding certain potent influenza viruses and other disease epidemics. Publicity of this 
type may have a negative impact on demand for air travel in Europe. Past outbreaks of SARS, foot-and-mouth 
disease,  avian  flu  and  swine  flu  have  adversely  impacted  the  travel  industries,  including  aviation,  in  certain 
regions of the world, including Europe. The Company believes that if any influenza or other pandemic becomes 
severe in Europe, its effect on demand for air travel in the markets in which Ryanair operates could be material, 
and  it  could  therefore  have  a  significantly  adverse  impact  on  the  Company.  A  severe  outbreak  of  swine  flu, 
SARS,  foot-and-mouth  disease,  avian  flu  or  another  pandemic  or  livestock-related  disease  also  may  result  in 
European or national authorities imposing restrictions on travel, further damaging Ryanair‘s business. A serious 
pandemic could therefore severely disrupt Ryanair‘s business, resulting in the cancellation or loss of bookings, 
and adversely affecting Ryanair‘s financial condition and results of operations. 

Introduction  of  New  or  Increases  in  Existing  Aviation  Taxes  Could  Increase  Costs.  A  number  of 
European  states,  including  the  United  Kingdom,  Ireland,  Germany  and  Austria,  currently  impose  taxes  on  air 
travel, often disguised as environmental taxes. Although the Netherlands reduced its aviation tax to zero in 2009 
and Ireland reduced its tax from €10 to €3 in March 2011, due to government budgetary deficits these taxes may 
be  reinstated  in  their  previous  or  a  new  form.  Further,  other  state  governments  or  the  European  Union  may 
introduce aviation taxation. Any such taxes would increase costs and could have a negative impact on demand 
for air travel. See also ―—Environmental Regulation—Aviation Taxes‖ below. 

The  Company  is  Dependent  on  the  Continued  Acceptance  of  Low-fares  Airlines.  In  past  years, 
accidents or other safety-related incidents involving certain low-fares airlines have had a negative impact on the 
public‘s acceptance of  such airlines.  Any adverse event potentially relating to the  safety or reliability of low-
fares  airlines  (including  accidents  or  negative  reports  from  regulatory  authorities)  could  adversely  impact  the 
public‘s  perception  of,  and  confidence  in,  low-fares  airlines  like  Ryanair,  and  could  have  a  material  adverse 
effect on the Company‘s financial condition and results of operations. 

Terrorism in the United Kingdom or Elsewhere in Europe Could Have a Material Detrimental Effect 
on  the  Company.  On  August  10,  2006,  U.K.  security  authorities  arrested  and  subsequently  charged  eight 
individuals in connection with an alleged plot to attack aircraft operating on transatlantic routes. As a result of 
these  arrests,  U.K.  authorities  introduced  increased  security  measures,  which  resulted  in  all  passengers  being 
body-searched, and a ban on the transportation in carry-on baggage of certain liquids and gels. The introduction 
of these measures led to passengers suffering severe delays while passing through these airport security checks. 
As a result, Ryanair cancelled 279 flights in the days following the incident and refunded a total of €2.7 million 
in fares to approximately 40,000 passengers. In the days following the arrests, Ryanair also suffered reductions 
in bookings estimated to have resulted in the loss of approximately €1.9 million of additional revenue. As in the 
past, the Company reacted to these adverse events by initiating system-wide fare sales to stimulate demand for 
air travel. 

In addition, reservations on Ryanair‘s flights to London dropped materially for a number of days in the 
immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005. Although the terrorist attack in Glasgow 
on June 30, 2007 and the failed terrorist attacks in London on July 21, 2005 and June 29, 2007 had no material 
impact on bookings, there can be no assurance that future  such attacks will not affect passenger traffic. In the 
2012 fiscal year, 16.0 million passengers were booked on Ryanair‘s flights into and out of London, representing 
21.0% of the total passengers booked on all of the Company‘s flights in the fiscal year. Future acts of terrorism 
or significant terrorist threats, particularly in London or other markets that are significant to Ryanair, could have 
a material adverse effect on the Company‘s profitability or financial condition should the public‘s willingness to 
travel to and from those markets decline as a result. See also ―—The 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the United States 
Had a Severe Negative Impact on the International Airline Industry‖ below. 

52 

 
 
 
The  2001  Terrorist  Attacks  on  the  United  States  Had  a  Severe  Negative  Impact  on  the  International 
Airline Industry. The terrorist attacks on the  United States  on September 11, 2001, in  which  four commercial 
aircraft  were  hijacked,  had  a  severe  negative  impact  on  the  international  airline  industry,  particularly  on  U.S. 
carriers  and  carriers  operating  international  services  to  and  from  the  United  States.  Although  carriers  such  as 
Ryanair  that  operate  primarily  or  exclusively  in  Europe  were  generally  spared  from  such  material  adverse 
impacts  on  their  businesses,  the  cost  to  all  commercial  airlines  of  insurance  coverage  for  certain  third-party 
liabilities  arising  from  ―acts  of  war‖  or  terrorism  increased  dramatically  after  the  September  11  attacks.  See 
―Item 4. Information on the Company—Insurance.‖ In addition, Ryanair‘s insurers have indicated that the scope 
of  the  Company‘s  current  ―act  of  war‖-related  insurance  may  exclude  certain  types  of  catastrophic  incidents, 
such  as  certain  forms  of  biological,  chemical  or  ―dirty  bomb‖  attacks.  This  could  result  in  the  Company‘s 
seeking  alternative  coverage,  including  government  insurance  or  self-insurance,  which  could  lead  to  further 
increases in costs. Although Ryanair to date has passed on increased insurance costs to passengers by means of a 
special ―insurance levy‖ on each ticket, there can be no assurance that it will continue to be successful in doing 
so. 

Because a substantial portion of airline travel (both business and personal) is discretionary and because 
Ryanair  is  substantially  dependent  on  discretionary  air  travel,  any  prolonged  general  reduction  in  airline 
passenger traffic may adversely affect the Company. Similarly, any significant increase in expenses related to 
security, insurance or related costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Any further terrorist 
attacks  in  the  U.S.  or  in  Europe,  particularly  in  London  or  other  markets  that  are  significant  to  Ryanair,  any 
significant military actions by the United States or EU nations or any related economic downturn may have a 
material adverse effect on demand for air travel and thus on Ryanair‘s business, operating results, and financial 
condition.  See  also  ―—Risks  Related  to  the  Company—Further  Terrorist  Attacks  in  London  and  Other 
Destinations Could Have a Detrimental Effect on the Company.‖ 

The Company Faces the Risk of Loss and Liability. Ryanair is exposed to potential catastrophic losses 
that may be incurred in the event of an aircraft accident or terrorist incident. Any such accident or incident could 
involve  costs  related  to  the  repair  or  replacement  of  a  damaged  aircraft  and  its  consequent  temporary  or 
permanent loss from service. In addition, an accident or incident could result in significant legal claims against 
the Company from injured passengers and others who experienced injury or property damage as a result of the 
accident  or  incident,  including  ground  victims.  Ryanair  currently  maintains  passenger  liability  insurance, 
employer  liability  insurance,  aircraft  insurance  for  aircraft  loss  or  damage,  and  other  business  insurance  in 
amounts per occurrence that are consistent with industry standards.  

Ryanair currently believes its insurance coverage is adequate (although not comprehensive). However, 
there can be  no assurance that the amount of insurance coverage  will not need to be increased, that insurance 
premiums will not increase significantly, or that Ryanair will not be forced to bear substantial losses from any 
accidents not covered by its insurance. Airline insurance costs increased dramatically following the September 
2001  terrorist  attacks  on  the  United  States.  See  ―—The  2001  Terrorist  Attacks  on  the  United  States  Had  a 
Severe  Negative  Impact  on  the  International  Airline  Industry‖  above.  Substantial  claims  resulting  from  an 
accident in excess of related insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Company‘s results 
of operations and financial condition. Moreover, any aircraft accident,  even if  fully insured, could lead to the 
public perception that Ryanair‘s aircraft were less safe or reliable than those operated by other airlines, which 
could have a material adverse effect on Ryanair‘s business. 

EU Regulation No. 2027/97, as amended by Regulation No. 889/2002, governs air carrier liability. See 
―Item 4. Information on the Company—Insurance‖ for details of this regulation. This regulation increased the 
potential liability exposure of air carriers such as Ryanair. Although Ryanair has extended its liability insurance 
to  meet the requirements of the regulation,  no assurance can be given that other laws, regulations, or policies 
will not be applied, modified or amended in a manner that has a material adverse effect on Ryanair‘s business, 
operating results, and financial condition.  

Airline Industry Margins are Subject to Significant Uncertainty. The airline industry is capital intensive 
and  is  characterized  by  high  fixed  costs  and  by  revenues  that  generally  exhibit  substantially  greater  elasticity 
than costs. Although fuel accounted for approximately 43% of total operating expenses in the 2012 fiscal year, 
management  anticipates  that  this  percentage  may  vary  significantly  in  future  years.  See  ―—Changes  in  Fuel 
Costs and Fuel Availability Affect the Company‘s Results and Increase the Likelihood that the Company May 
Incur Losses‖ above. The operating costs of each flight do not vary significantly with the number of passengers 
flown, and therefore, a relatively small  change in the  number of passengers, fare  pricing, or traffic  mix could 
have a disproportionate effect on operating and financial results. Accordingly, a relatively minor shortfall from 
53 

 
 
expected  revenue  levels  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company‘s  growth  or  financial 
performance.  See  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects.‖  The  very  low  marginal  costs 
incurred for providing services to passengers occupying otherwise unsold seats are also a factor in the industry‘s 
high susceptibility to price discounting. See ―—The Company Faces Significant Price and Other Pressures in a 
Highly Competitive Environment‖ above. 

 Safety-Related Undertakings Could Affect the Company’s Results. Aviation authorities in Europe and 
the  United  States  periodically  require  or  suggest  that  airlines  implement  certain  safety-related  procedures  on 
their aircraft. In recent years, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (the ―FAA‖) has required a number of 
such procedures with regard to Boeing 737-800 aircraft, including checks of rear pressure bulkheads and flight 
control  modules,  redesign  of  the  rudder  control  system,  and  limitations  on  certain  operating  procedures. 
Ryanair‘s  policy  is  to  implement  any  such  required  procedures  in  accordance  with  FAA  guidance  and  to 
perform such procedures in close collaboration with Boeing. To date, all such procedures have been conducted 
as part of Ryanair‘s standard maintenance program and have not interrupted flight schedules nor required any 
material  increases  in  Ryanair‘s  maintenance  expenses.  However,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  FAA  or 
other  regulatory  authorities  will  not  recommend  or  require  other  safety-related  undertakings  or  that  such 
undertakings would not adversely impact the Company‘s operating results or financial condition. 

There also can be no assurance that new regulations will not be implemented in the future that would 
apply  to  Ryanair‘s  aircraft  and  result  in  an  increase  in  Ryanair‘s  cost  of  maintenance  or  other  costs  beyond 
management‘s current estimates. In addition, should Ryanair‘s aircraft cease to be sufficiently reliable or should 
any public perception develop that Ryanair‘s aircraft are less than completely reliable, the Company‘s business 
could be materially adversely affected. 

Risks Related to Ownership of the Company’s Ordinary Shares or ADRs 

EU  Rules  Impose  Restrictions  on  the  Ownership  of  Ryanair  Holdings’  Ordinary  Shares  by  Non-EU 
Nationals, and the Company Has Instituted a Ban on the Purchase of Ordinary Shares by Non-EU Nationals. 
EU Regulation No. 1008/2008 requires that, in order to obtain and retain an operating license, an EU air carrier 
must be majority-owned and effectively controlled by EU nationals. The regulation does not specify what level 
of  share  ownership  will  confer  effective  control  on  a  holder  or  holders  of  Ordinary  Shares.  The  Board  of 
Directors  of  Ryanair  Holdings  is  given  certain  powers  under  Ryanair  Holdings‘  articles  of  association  (the 
―Articles‖)  to  take  action  to  ensure  that  the  number  of  Ordinary  Shares  held  in  Ryanair  Holdings  by  non-EU 
nationals  (―Affected  Shares‖)  does  not  reach  a  level  that  could  jeopardize  the  Company‘s  entitlement  to 
continue to hold or enjoy the benefit of any license, permit, consent, or privilege which it holds or enjoys and 
which  enables  it  to  carry  on  business  as  an  air  carrier.  The  directors,  from  time  to  time,  set  a  ―Permitted 
Maximum‖ on the number of the Company‘s Ordinary Shares that may be owned by non-EU nationals at such 
level as they believe will comply with EU law. The Permitted Maximum is currently set at 49.9%. In addition, 
under  certain  circumstances,  the  directors  can  take  action  to  safeguard  the  Company‘s  ability  to  operate  by 
identifying those Ordinary Shares, American Depositary Shares (―ADSs‖) or Affected Shares which give rise to 
the need to take action and treat such Ordinary Shares, the American Depositary Receipts (―ADRs‖) evidencing 
such  ADSs,  or  Affected  Shares  as  ―Restricted  Shares.‖  The  Board  of  Directors  may,  under  certain 
circumstances,  deprive  holders  of  Restricted  Shares  of  their  rights  to  attend,  vote  at,  and  speak  at  general 
meetings, and/or require such holders to dispose of their Restricted Shares to an EU national within as little as 
21 days. The directors are also given the power to transfer such Restricted Shares themselves if a holder fails to 
comply.  In  2002,  the  Company  implemented  measures  to  restrict  the  ability  of  non-EU  nationals  to  purchase 
Ordinary Shares, and non-EU nationals are currently effectively barred from purchasing Ordinary Shares, and 
will remain so for as long as these restrictions remain in place. There can be no assurance that these restrictions 
will ever be  lifted. Additionally, these foreign ownership restrictions could result in Ryanair‘s exclusion from 
certain stock tracking indices. Any such exclusion may adversely affect the market price of the Ordinary Shares 
and ADRs. On April 19, 2012, the Company obtained shareholder approval to repurchase ADRs as part of its 
general authority to repurchase up to 5% of the issued share capital  in the Company traded on the NASDAQ.  
See  ―Item 10. Additional Information—Limitations on Share Ownership by Non-EU Nationals‖ for a detailed 
discussion of restrictions on share ownership and the current ban on share purchases by non-EU nationals. As of 
June 30, 2012, EU nationals owned at least 54.17% of Ryanair Holdings‘ Ordinary Shares (assuming conversion 
of all outstanding ADRs into Ordinary Shares). 

54 

 
 
 
Holders of Ordinary Shares are Currently Unable to Convert those Shares into American Depositary 
Receipts.  In  an  effort  to  increase  the  percentage  of  its  share  capital  held  by  EU  nationals,  on  June  26,  2001, 
Ryanair  Holdings  instructed  The  Bank  of  New  York  Mellon,  the  depositary  for  its  ADR  program  (the 
―Depositary‖),  to  suspend  the  issuance  of  new  ADRs  in  exchange  for  the  deposit  of  Ordinary  Shares  until 
further  notice.  Holders  of  Ordinary  Shares  cannot  convert  their  Ordinary  Shares  into  ADRs  during  this 
suspension, and there can be no assurance that the suspension will ever be lifted. See also ―—EU Rules Impose 
Restrictions on the Ownership of Ryanair Holdings‘  Ordinary Shares by Non-EU  nationals and the Company 
has Instituted a Ban on the Purchase of Ordinary Shares by Non-EU Nationals‖ above. 

The  Company’s  Results  of  Operations  May  Fluctuate  Significantly.  The  Company‘s  results  of 
operations  have  varied  significantly  from  quarter  to  quarter,  and  management  expects  these  variations  to 
continue.  See  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—Seasonal  Fluctuations.‖  Among  the 
factors causing these variations are the airline industry‘s sensitivity to general economic conditions, the seasonal 
nature  of air travel, and trends in airlines‘ costs, especially fuel costs. Because a  substantial portion of airline 
travel  (both  business  and  personal)  is  discretionary,  the  industry  tends  to  experience  adverse  financial  results 
during general economic downturns. The Company is substantially dependent on discretionary air travel.  

The trading price of Ryanair Holdings‘ Ordinary Shares and ADRs may be subject to wide fluctuations 
in response to quarterly variations in the Company‘s operating results and the operating results of other airlines. 
In addition, the global stock markets from time to time experience extreme price and volume fluctuations that 
affect the market prices of many airline company stocks. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect 
the market price of the Ordinary Shares and ADRs. 

Ryanair Holdings May or May Not Pay Dividends. Since its incorporation as the holding company for 
Ryanair in 1996, Ryanair Holdings has only twice declared dividends on its Ordinary Shares. The directors of 
the  Company  declared  on  June  1,  2010  that  Ryanair  Holdings  intended  to  pay  a  special  dividend  of  €500 
million, and  following shareholder approval at its annual  general  meeting on September 22, 2010 this  special 
dividend was paid on October 1, 2010. Directors of the Company also declared on May 21, 2012 that Ryanair 
Holdings  intended  to  pay  a  special  dividend  of  €0.34  per  ordinary  share  (approx  €489  million)  in  November 
2012 subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting on September 21, 2012. The Company may 
ultimately determine not to pay any such dividend, or may fail to obtain shareholder approval (where required). 
The Company may pay other dividends from time to time, or it may not pay any dividends at all, as has been its 
general  practice  to  date.  No  assurances  can  be  given  that  the  Company  will,  or  will  not,  pay  dividends.  See 
―Item  8.  Financial  Information—Other  Financial  Information—Dividend  Policy.‖  As  a  holding  company, 
Ryanair Holdings does not have any material assets other than the shares of Ryanair. 

Increased Costs for Possible Future ADR and Share Repurchases. In April 2012, the Company held an 
extraordinary general meeting to authorize the directors to repurchase Ordinary Shares and ADRs for up to 5% 
of the issued share capital of the Company traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market (―NASDAQ‖).  Up until April 
2012,  shareholders  had  only  authorized  the  directors  to  repurchase  Ordinary  Shares.  As  the  ADRs  typically 
trade  at  a  premium  of  15%  to  20%  compared  to  Ordinary  Shares,  this  may  result  in  increased  costs  in 
performing share buy-backs in the future. At this time the Company has not decided whether it will complete 
further share repurchases and whether it will repurchase Ordinary Shares or ADRs.   

Item 4. Information on the Company 

INTRODUCTION 

Ryanair  Holdings  was  incorporated  in  1996  as  a  holding  company  for  Ryanair  Limited.  The  latter 
operates an ultra-low cost, scheduled-passenger airline serving short-haul, point-to-point routes between Ireland, 
the U.K., Continental Europe, and Morocco. Incorporated in 1984, Ryanair Limited began to introduce a low-
fares operating model under a new management team in the early 1990s. See ―Item 5. Operating and Financial 
Review  and  Prospect  -  History.‖  As  of  June  30,  2012,  with  its  operating  fleet  of  294  Boeing  737-800  ―next 
generation‖  aircraft,  Ryanair  Limited  offered  over  1,500  scheduled  short-haul  flights  per  day  serving 
approximately  160  airports  largely  throughout  Europe.  See  ― Route  System,  Scheduling  and  Fares Route 
System  and  Scheduling‖  for  more  details  of  Ryanair‘s  route  network.  See  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial 
Review and Prospects Seasonal Fluctuations‖ for information about the seasonality of Ryanair‘s business.  

55 

 
 
Ryanair recorded a profit on ordinary activities after taxation of €560.4 million in the 2012 fiscal year, 
as  compared  to  a  profit  on  ordinary  activities  after  taxation  of  €374.6  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  This  
increase  was primarily attributable to an increase in revenues of approximately 21% from €3,629.5 million to 
€4,390.2  million,  partially  offset  by  an  increase  in  fuel  costs  of  approximately  30%  from  €1,227.0  million  to 
€1,593.6  million.  Ryanair  generated  an  average  booked  passenger  load  factor  of  approximately  82%  and 
average scheduled passenger revenues of €0.061 per ASM in the 2012 fiscal year. The Company has focused on 
maintaining low operating costs (€0.052 per ASM in the 2012 fiscal year). 

The market‘s acceptance of Ryanair‘s low-fares service is reflected in the ―Ryanair Effect‖ – Ryanair‘s 
history of stimulating significant annual passenger traffic growth on the new routes on which it has commenced 
service  since  1991.  For  example,  on  the  basis  of  the  ―U.K.  Airports  Annual  Statement  of  Movements, 
Passengers  and  Cargo‖  published  by  the  U.K.  Civil  Aviation  Authority  and  statistics  released  by  the 
International  Civil  Aviation  Organization  (the  ―ICAO‖),  the  number  of  scheduled  airline  passengers  traveling 
between Dublin and London increased from 1.7 million passengers in 1991 to 3.7 million passengers in the 2011 
calendar year. Most international routes Ryanair has begun serving since 1991 have recorded significant traffic 
growth in the period following Ryanair‘s commencement of service, with Ryanair capturing the largest portion 
of  such  growth  on  each  such  route.  A  variety  of  factors  contributed  to  this  increase  in  air  passenger  traffic, 
including the relative strength of the Irish, U.K., and European economies in past years. However, management 
believes that the most significant factors driving such growth across all its European routes have been Ryanair‘s 
low-fares policy and its superiority to its competitors in terms of flight punctuality, levels of lost baggage, and 
rates of flight cancellations. 

The  address  of  Ryanair  Holdings‘  registered  office  is:  c/o  Ryanair  Limited,  Corporate  Head  Office, 
Dublin Airport, County Dublin, Ireland. The Company‘s contact person regarding this Annual Report on  Form 
20-F  is:  Howard  Millar,  Deputy  Chief  Executive  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  (same  address  as  above).  The 
telephone number is +353-1-812-1212 and the facsimile number is +353-1-812-1213. Under its current Articles, 
Ryanair Holdings has an unlimited corporate duration. 

STRATEGY 

Ryanair‘s objective is to firmly establish itself as Europe‘s biggest scheduled passenger airline, through 
continued  improvements  and  expanded  offerings  of  its  low-fares  service.  In  the  highly  challenging  current 
operating  environment,  Ryanair  seeks  to  offer  low  fares  that  generate  increased  passenger  traffic  while 
maintaining a continuous focus on cost-containment and operating efficiencies. The key elements of Ryanair‘s 
long-term strategy are: 

Low  Fares.  Ryanair‘s  low  fares  are  designed  to  stimulate  demand,  particularly  from  fare-conscious 
leisure and business travelers who might otherwise use alternative forms of transportation or choose not to travel 
at all. Ryanair sells  seats on  a one-way basis,  thus eliminating  minimum  stay requirements from all  travel on 
Ryanair scheduled services. Ryanair sets fares on the basis of the demand for particular flights and by reference 
to the period remaining to the date of departure of the  flight,  with higher fares charged on flights with higher 
levels of demand and for bookings made nearer to the date of departure. Ryanair also periodically runs special 
promotional fare campaigns. See ―—Route System, Scheduling and Fares—Low and Widely Available Fares‖ 
below.  

Customer  Service.  Ryanair‘s  strategy  is  to  deliver  the  best  customer  service  performance  in  its  peer 
group.  According to the data  available  from the  Association of European  Airlines (―AEA‖) and airlines‘ own 
published  statistics,  Ryanair  has  achieved  better  punctuality,  fewer  lost  bags,  and  fewer  cancellations  than  its 
peer  group  in  Europe.  Ryanair  achieves  this  by  focusing  strongly  on  the  execution  of  these  services  and  by 
primarily  operating  from  un-congested  airports.  Ryanair  conducts  a  daily  conference  call  with  Ryanair  and 
airport  personnel  at  each  of  its  base  airports,  during  which  the  reasons  for  each  ―first  wave‖  flight  delay  and 
baggage  short-shipment  are  discussed  in  detail  and  logged  to  ensure  that  the  root  cause  is  identified  and 
rectified. Subsequent (consequential) delays and short shipments are investigated by Ryanair ground operations 
personnel.  Customer  satisfaction  is  also  measured  by  regular  online,  mystery-passenger  and  by  passenger 
surveys. 

56 

 
 
 
Frequent  Point-to-Point  Flights  on  Short-Haul  Routes.  Ryanair  provides  frequent  point-to-point 
service on short-haul routes to secondary and regional airports in and around major population centers and travel 
destinations. In the 2012 fiscal  year, Ryanair flew an average route length of 771 miles and an average  flight 
duration  of  approximately  1.77  hours.  Short-haul  routes  allow  Ryanair  to  offer  its  low  fares  and  frequent 
service,  while eliminating the need to provide unnecessary ―frills,‖ like in-flight  meals  and  movies, otherwise 
expected  by  customers  on  longer  flights.  Point-to-point  flying  (as  opposed  to  hub-and-spoke  service)  allows 
Ryanair  to  offer  direct,  non-stop  routes  and  avoid  the  costs  of  providing  ―through  service,‖  for  connecting 
passengers, including baggage transfer and transit passenger assistance. 

In  choosing  its  routes,  Ryanair  favors  secondary  airports  with  convenient  transportation  to  major 
population centers and regional airports. Secondary and regional airports are generally less congested than major 
airports and, as a result, can be expected to provide higher rates of on-time departures, faster turnaround times 
(the  time  an  aircraft  spends  at  a  gate  loading  and  unloading  passengers),  fewer  terminal  delays,  more 
competitive airport access, and lower handling costs. Ryanair‘s ―on time‖ performance record (arrivals within 
15  minutes  of  schedule)  for  the  2012  fiscal  year  was  91%.  Faster  turnaround  times  are  a  key  element  in 
Ryanair‘s  efforts  to  maximize  aircraft  utilization.  Ryanair‘s  average  scheduled  turnaround  time  for  the  2012 
fiscal year was approximately 25 minutes. Secondary and regional airports also generally do not maintain slot 
requirements  or  other  operating  restrictions  that  can  increase  operating  expenses  and  limit  the  number  of 
allowed take-offs and landings. 

Low Operating Costs. Management believes that Ryanair‘s operating costs are among the lowest of any 
European  scheduled-passenger  airline.  Ryanair  strives  to  reduce  or  control  four  of  the  primary  expenses 
involved in running a  major scheduled airline: (i) aircraft  equipment costs; (ii)  personnel costs; (iii) customer 
service costs; and (iv) airport access and handling costs:  

Aircraft  Equipment  Costs.  Ryanair‘s  primary  strategy  for  controlling  aircraft  acquisition  costs  is 
focused on operating a single aircraft type. Ryanair currently operates only ―next generation‖ Boeing 
737-800s. Ryanair‘s continuous acquisition of new Boeing 737-800s has already and is expected, until 
the end of 2012, to increase the size of its fleet and thus increase its aircraft equipment and related costs 
(on an aggregate basis). However, the purchase of aircraft from a single manufacturer enables Ryanair 
to  limit  the  costs  associated  with  personnel  training,  maintenance,  and  the  purchase  and  storage  of 
spare  parts  while  also  affording  the  Company  greater  flexibility  in  the  scheduling  of  crews  and 
equipment.  Management  also  believes  that  the  terms  of  Ryanair‘s  contracts  with  Boeing  are  very 
favorable to Ryanair. However, as Ryanair‘s existing delivery program expires in November 2012, the 
Company may have to consider an additional aircraft order with Boeing or other aircraft manufacturers 
for  future  deliveries  for  growth  or  fleet  replacement  purposes.  See  ― Aircraft‖  below  for  additional 
information on Ryanair‘s fleet. 

Personnel  Costs.  Ryanair  endeavors  to  control  its  labor  costs  by  seeking  to  continually  improve  the 
productivity  of  its  already  highly  productive  work  force.  Compensation  for  employees  emphasizes 
productivity-based pay incentives. These incentives include commissions for onboard sales of products 
for flight attendants and payments based on the number of hours or sectors flown by pilots and flight 
attendants within limits set by industry standards or regulations fixing maximum working hours.  

Customer  Service  Costs.  Ryanair  has  entered  into  agreements  on  competitive  terms  with  external 
contractors  at  certain  airports  for  ticketing,  passenger  and  aircraft  handling,  and  other  services  that 
management believes can be more cost-efficiently provided by third parties. Management attempts to 
obtain  competitive  rates  for  such  services  by  negotiating  fixed-price,  multi-year  contracts.  The 
development  of  its  own  Internet  booking  facility  has  allowed  Ryanair  to  eliminate  travel  agent 
commissions  and  third-party  reservation  systems  costs.  Ryanair  generates  over  99%  of  its  scheduled 
passenger revenues through direct sales via its website. 

Airport Access and Handling Costs. Ryanair attempts to control airport access and service charges by 
focusing  on  airports  that  offer  competitive  prices.  Management  believes  that  Ryanair‘s  record  of 
delivering  a  consistently  high  volume  of  passenger  traffic  growth  at  many  airports  has  allowed  it  to 
negotiate favorable contracts with such airports for access to their facilities. Ryanair further endeavors 
to reduce its airport charges by opting,  when practicable, for less expensive  gate  locations as  well as 
outdoor boarding stairs, rather than jetways, which are more expensive and operationally less efficient 
to use. In addition, since October 2009, Ryanair has required all passengers to check-in on the Internet. 

57 

 
 
This  requirement  was  instituted  to  reduce  waiting  times  at  airports  and  speed  a  passenger‘s  journey 
from arrival at the airport to boarding, as  well as significantly reduce airport handling costs. Ryanair 
has also introduced a checked-bag fee, which is payable on the Internet at the time of booking and is 
aimed at reducing the number of bags carried by passengers in order to further reduce handling costs. 
See ―Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Company—The Company Faces Risks Related to its Internet 
Reservations Operations and its Announced Elimination of Airport Check-in Facilities.‖ 

Taking  Advantage  of  the  Internet.  In  2000,  Ryanair  converted  its  host  reservation  system  to  a  new 
system,  which  it  operates  under  a  hosting  agreement  with  Navitaire  that  was  extended  in  2011  and  will 
terminate in 2020. As part of the implementation of the new reservation system, Navitaire developed an Internet 
booking facility. The Ryanair system allows Internet users to access its host reservation system and to make and 
pay  for confirmed reservations in real time  through the  Ryanair.com  website.  After the  launch of the Internet 
reservation system, Ryanair heavily promoted its website through newspaper, radio and television advertising. 
As a result, Internet bookings grew rapidly, and have accounted for over 99% of all reservations over the past 
several years. In May 2012, Ryanair further upgraded the reservation system, which offers more flexibility for 
future system enhancements and to accommodate the future growth of Ryanair. 

Commitment  to  Safety  and  Quality  Maintenance.  Safety  is  the  primary  priority  of  Ryanair  and  its 
management.  This  commitment  begins  with  the  hiring  and  training  of  Ryanair‘s  pilots,  flight  attendants,  and 
maintenance personnel and includes a policy of maintaining its aircraft in accordance with the highest European 
airline industry standards. Ryanair has not had a single passenger or flight crew fatality as a result of an accident 
with one of its aircraft in its 27-year operating history. Although Ryanair seeks to maintain its fleet in a cost-
effective  manner,  management  does  not  seek  to  extend  Ryanair‘s  low-cost  operating  strategy  to  the  areas  of 
safety,  maintenance,  training  or  quality  assurance.  Routine  aircraft  maintenance  and  repair  services  are 
performed  primarily  by  Ryanair,  at  Ryanair‘s  main  bases,  but  are  also  performed  at  other  base  airports  by 
maintenance  contractors  approved  under  the  terms  of  Part  145.  Ryanair  currently  performs  heavy  airframe 
maintenance, but contracts with other parties who perform engine overhaul services and rotable repairs. These 
contractors also provide similar services to a number of other airlines, including British Airways, Finnair and 
Iberia. Ryanair assigns a Part 145-certified mechanic to oversee engine overhauls performed by other parties.  

Enhancement  of  Operating  Results  through  Ancillary  Services.  Ryanair  distributes  accommodation 
services  and  travel  insurance  primarily  through  its  website.  For  hotel  services,  Ryanair  has  a  contract  with 
Hotelscombined  PTY  Ltd,  and  they  provide  a  hotel  comparison  website  to  Ryanair  which  generates 
commissions  for  Ryanair  on  the  number  of  bookings  made.    Ryanair  also  has  contracts  with  other 
accommodation providers that enable Ryanair to offer camping, hostel, bed-and-breakfast, guesthouse, villa and 
apartment  accommodation  to  its  customers.  In  addition  Ryanair  has  a  contract  with  the  Hertz  Corporation 
(―Hertz‖),  pursuant  to  which  Hertz  handles  all  car  rental  services  marketed  through  Ryanair‘s  website  or 
telephone reservation system. Ryanair also sells bus and rail tickets onboard its aircraft and through its website. 
For  the  2012  fiscal  year,  ancillary  services  accounted  for  approximately  20%  of  Ryanair‘s  total  operating 
revenues,  as  compared  to  approximately  22%  of  such  revenues  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  See  ―—Ancillary 
Services‖  below  and  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—Results  of  Operations—Fiscal 
Year 2012 Compared with Fiscal Year 2011—Ancillary Revenues‖ for additional information. 

Focused Criteria for Growth. Building on its success in the Ireland-U.K. market and its expansion of 
service  to  continental  Europe  and  Morocco,  Ryanair  intends  to  follow  a  manageable  growth  plan  targeting 
specific  markets.  Ryanair  believes  it  will  have  opportunities  for  continued  growth  by:  (i)  initiating  additional 
routes in the EU; (ii) initiating additional routes in countries party to a European Common Aviation Agreement 
with  the  EU  that  are  currently  served  by  higher-cost,  higher-fare  carriers;  (iii)  increasing  the  frequency  of 
service on its existing routes; (iv) starting new domestic routes within individual EU countries; (v) considering 
acquisition  opportunities  that  may  become  available  in  the  future;  (vi)  connecting  airports  within  its  existing 
route network (―triangulation‖); (vii) establishing new bases; and (viii) initiating new routes not currently served 
by any carrier. 

During  the  2007  fiscal  year,  the  Company  acquired  25.2%  of  Aer  Lingus.  The  Company  thereafter 
increased its interest to 29.3% during the 2008 fiscal year, and to 29.8% during the 2009 fiscal year at a total 
aggregate cost of €407.2 million. Following the acquisition of the Company‘s initial stake in Aer Lingus during 
fiscal  2007,  and  after  approval  by  the  Company‘s  shareholders,  Company  management  proposed  to  effect  a 
tender offer to acquire the entire share capital of Aer Lingus (the ―2006 Offer‖). This 2006 offer was, however, 
prohibited by the European Commission on competition grounds. Ryanair filed an appeal with the EU Court of 

58 

 
 
First  Instance  (―CFI‖;  now  the  ―General  Court‖),  in  July  2010.  The  CFI  upheld  the  European  Commission‘s 
decision. 

On December 1, 2008, Ryanair made a second offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Aer Lingus 
it did not own, at a price of €1.40 per ordinary share. Ryanair offered to keep Aer Lingus as a separate company, 
maintain the Aer Lingus brand, and retain its Heathrow slots and connectivity. Ryanair also proposed to double 
Aer  Lingus‘  short-haul  fleet  from  33  to  66  aircraft  and  to  create  1,000  associated  new  jobs  over  a  five-year 
period. If the offer had been accepted, the Irish government would have received over €180 million in cash. The 
employee  share  option  trust  and  employees,  who  owned  18%  of  Aer  Lingus,  would  have  received  over  €137 
million in cash. The Company met Aer Lingus management, representatives of the employee share option trust 
and  other  parties,  including  the  Irish  Government.  The  offer  of  €1.40  per  share  represented  a  premium  of 
approximately  25%  over  the  closing  price  of  €1.12  of  Aer  Lingus  on  November  28,  2008.  However,  as  the 
Company  was  unable  to  secure  the  shareholders‘  support  (to  sell  their  stakes  in  Aer  Lingus  to  Ryanair),  the 
Company decided on January 28, 2009, to withdraw its offer for Aer Lingus. 

  Between  2010  and  2012  the  United  Kingdom‘s  OFT  investigated  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer 
Lingus and in June 2012 referred the matter to the UK Competition Commission for further investigation. See 
―Item  8.  Financial  Information—Other  Financial  Information—Legal  Proceedings—Matters  Related  to 
Investment in Aer Lingus.‖  

On June 19, 2012, Ryanair made a third offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Aer Lingus it did 
not own at a price of €1.30 per ordinary share.  The timing of the offer has been influenced by: (1) the continued 
consolidation of European airlines, and more recently the International Airlines Group (the parent company of 
British Airways) takeover of British Midland International, where the No. 1 airline at Heathrow was allowed to 
acquire the  No. 2; (2) the additional capacity available at  Dublin airport following the  opening of Terminal 2 
and the decline in traffic from 23.3 million passengers per annum in 2007 to 18.7 million in 2011, resulting in 
Dublin  airport  operating  at  approximately  50%  capacity;  (3)  the  change  in  the  Irish  government  policy  since 
2006 in that the Irish government has decided to sell its stake in Aer Lingus; (4) the fact that under the terms of 
the  bailout  agreement  provided  by  the  European  Commission,  European  Central  Bank  and  the  International 
Monetary Fund (collectively the ―Troika‖) to Ireland, the Irish government has committed to sell its stake in Aer 
Lingus;  (5)  the  fact  that  the  ESOT  (Employee  Share  Ownership  Trust)  which  at  the  time  of  the  unsuccessful 
2006 offer controlled 15% of Aer Lingus, has been disbanded since December 2010 and the shares distributed to 
the individual members with the result that, Ryanair‘s new offer is, in Ryanair‘s view, capable of reaching over 
50% acceptance either with or without the Irish government‘s acceptance;  and (6) the fact that recently, Etihad, 
an Abu Dhabi based airline, has acquired a 3% stake in Aer Lingus and has expressed an interest in buying the 
Irish  government‘s 25% stake in  Aer  Lingus (the offer now provides Etihad or any other potential bidder the 
opportunity  to  purchase  the  Irish  government‘s  stake).  Ryanair  is  willing  to  offer  the  European  Commission 
appropriate remedies to allay competition concerns and it believes that these remedies, as well as the efficiencies 
and synergies arising from the combination, should allow the Commission to approve this proposed merger.  

Ryanair has offered to keep Aer Lingus as a separate company, maintain the Aer Lingus brand, and to 
grow  its  traffic  from  9.5  million  to  over  14.5  million  passengers  over  a  five  year  period  post  acquisition,  by 
growing Aer Lingus‘ short haul traffic at some of Europe‘s major airports where Aer Lingus currently operates 
and Ryanair does not. Ryanair also intends to increase Aer Lingus‘ transatlantic traffic from Ireland, which has 
fallen in recent  years, by investing in operations. If the offer is accepted, the Irish  government  would receive 
€173  million  in  cash.  The  offer  of  €1.30  per  share  represented  a  premium  of  approximately  38%  over  the 
closing  price  of  €0.94  for  Aer  Lingus  shares  as  of  June  19,  2012.    The  offer  is  conditional  on  competition 
approval  by  the  European  Commission.  The  Company  anticipates  that  the  EU  merger  review  process  will  be 
completed between September 2012 and February 2013. 

 Responding to Current Challenges. In recent periods, and with increased effect in the 2010, 2011 and 
2012  fiscal  years,  Ryanair‘s  low-cost,  low-fares  model  has  faced  substantial  pressure  due  to  significantly 
increased fuel costs and reduced economic growth (or economic contraction) in some of the economies in which 
it  operates.  The  Company  has  aimed  to  meet  these  challenges  by:  (i)  grounding  (approximately  80)  aircraft 
during the winter season; (ii) disposing of aircraft (disposals totaled three in the 2010 fiscal year, ten lease hand 
backs in the  2011 fiscal year  and 3 lease hand backs in the 2012 fiscal  year); (iii) controlling labor and other 
costs, including through wage freezes for non flight crew employees in 2010 and  2011, selective redundancies 
and the  introduction of Internet check-in; and (iv) renegotiating contracts  with existing  suppliers, airports and 
handling  companies.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Company  will  be  successful  in  achieving  all  of  the 
foregoing  or  taking  other  similar  measures,  or  that  doing  so  will  allow  the  Company  to  earn  profits  in  any 
59 

 
 
period. See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Company—Changes in Fuel Costs 
and Fuel Availability Affect the Company‘s Results and  Increase the Likelihood that the Company May Incur 
Losses‖ and ―—The Company May Not Be Successful in Raising Fares to Offset Increased Business Costs.‖ 

 In  recent  years,  in  response  to  an  operating  environment  characterized  by  high  fuel  prices,  typically 
lower  seasonal  yields  and  higher  airport  charges  and/or  taxes,  Ryanair  has  adopted  a  policy  of  grounding  a 
certain portion of its fleet during the winter months (from November to March inclusive). In the winter months 
of fiscal year 2012, Ryanair grounded approximately 80 aircraft and the Company announced in May 2012 that 
it intends to  ground  approximately  80 aircraft during the  winter  months of  fiscal  year  2013.    While seasonal 
grounding does reduce the Company‘s operating costs, it also decreases Ryanair‘s potential to record both flight 
and  non-flight  revenues.  Decreasing  the  number  and  frequency  of  flights  may  also  negatively  affect  the 
Company‘s  labor  relations,  including  its  ability  to  attract  flight  personnel  interested  in  full-time  employment. 
See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Ryanair Has Decided to Seasonally Ground Aircraft.‖ 

ROUTE SYSTEM, SCHEDULING AND FARES 

Route System and Scheduling 

As  of  July  20,  2012,  the  Company  offered  over  1,500  scheduled  short-haul  flights  per  day  serving 
approximately  160  airports  largely  throughout  Europe,  and  flying  approximately  1,500  routes.  The  following 
table lists Ryanair‘s bases of operations:   

Alghero 
Alicante 
Baden-Baden 
Barcelona (Girona) 
Barcelona (El Prat) 
Bari 
Billund 
Bologna 
Bournemouth 
Birmingham 
Bremen 
Brindisi 
Bristol 
Brussels (Charleroi) 
Budapest 
Cagliari 
Cork 

Bases of Operations 

Dublin 
Dusseldorf (Weeze) 
Edinburgh 
Faro 
Frankfurt (Hahn) 
Glasgow (Prestwick) 
Gran Canaria 
Kaunas 
Lanzarote 
Leeds Bradford 
Liverpool 
London (Luton) 
London (Stansted) 
Maastricht (a) 
Madrid 
Malaga 
Malta 

Manchester 
Milan (Bergamo) 
Nottingham East Midlands 
Palma Mallorca 
Paphos 
Pescara 
Pisa 
Porto 
Oslo (Rygge) 
Rome (Ciampino) 
Seville 
Shannon 
Stockholm (Skavsta) 
Tenerife South 
Trapani 
Valencia 
Wroclaw 

(a)  On July 3, 2012 Ryanair announced it would open a new base at Maastricht with effect from December 2012. 

See  Note  17,  ―Analysis  of  operating  revenues  and  segmental  analysis,‖  to  the  consolidated  financial 
statements  included  in  Item  18  for  more  information  regarding  the  geographical  sources  of  the  Company‘s 
revenue. 

Management‘s  objective  is  to  schedule  a  sufficient  number  of  flights  per  day  on  each  of  Ryanair‘s 
routes  to  satisfy  demand  for  Ryanair‘s  low-fares  service.  Ryanair  schedules  departures  on  its  most  popular 
routes at frequent intervals, normally between approximately 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Management regularly 
reviews the need for adjustments in the number of flights on all of its routes. 

During  the  2012  fiscal  year,  Ryanair  announced  330  new  routes  across  its  network.  See  ―Risk 

Factors—Risks Related to the Company—Ryanair Has Decided to Seasonally Ground Aircraft.‖ 

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Low and Widely Available Fares 

Ryanair  offers  low  fares,  with  prices  generally  varying  on  the  basis  of  advance  booking,  seat 
availability  and  demand.  Ryanair  sells  seats  on  a  one-way  basis,  thus  removing  minimum  stay  requirements 
from  all  travel  on  Ryanair  scheduled  services.  All  tickets  can  be  changed,  subject  to  certain  conditions, 
including fee payment and applicable upgrade charges. However, tickets are generally non-cancelable and non-
refundable and must be paid for at the time of reservation.  

Ryanair‘s discounted fares are ―capacity controlled‖ in that Ryanair allocates a specific number of seats 
on each flight to each fare category to accommodate projected demand for seats at each fare level leading up to 
flight  time.  Ryanair  generally  makes  its  lowest  fares  widely  available  by  allocating  a  majority  of  its  seat 
inventory  to its lowest fare categories. Management believes that  its  unrestricted fares as  well as its advance-
purchase fares are attractive to both business and leisure travelers.  

When launching a new route, Ryanair‘s policy is to price its lowest fare so that it will be significantly 

lower than other carriers‘ lowest fares, but still provide a satisfactory operating margin.  

Ryanair also periodically runs special promotional fare campaigns, in particular in connection with the 
opening of new routes, and endeavors to always offer the lowest fare on any route it serves. Promotional fares 
may  have  the  effect  of  increasing  load  factors  and  reducing  Ryanair‘s  yield  and  passenger  revenues  on  the 
relevant  routes  during  the  periods  they  are  in  effect.  Ryanair  expects  to  continue  to  offer  significant  fare 
promotions to stimulate demand in periods of lower activity or during off-peak times for the foreseeable future.  

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING 

Ryanair‘s  primary  marketing  strategy  is  to  emphasize  its  widely  available  low  fares  and  price 
guarantee. In doing so, Ryanair primarily advertises its services in national and regional newspapers, as well as 
through controversial and topical advertising, press conferences and publicity stunts. Other marketing activities 
include  the  distribution  of  advertising  and  promotional  material  and  cooperative  advertising  campaigns  with 
other travel-related entities, including local tourist boards. Ryanair also regularly contacts people registered in 
its database to inform them about promotions and special offers via e-mail. 

RESERVATIONS ON RYANAIR.COM 

Passenger  airlines  generally  rely  on  travel  agents  (whether  traditional  or  online)  for  a  significant 
portion of their ticket sales and pay travel agents commissions for their services, as well as reimbursing them for 
the fees charged by reservation systems-providers. In contrast, Ryanair requires passengers to make reservations 
and  purchase  tickets  directly  through  the  Company.  Over  99%  of  such  reservations  and  purchases  are  made 
through  the  website  Ryanair.com.  Ryanair  is  therefore  not  reliant  on  travel  agents.  See  ―—Strategy—Taking 
Advantage of the Internet‖ above for additional information. 

In  May  2012,  Ryanair  further  upgraded  its  reservation  system  in  order  to  facilitate  the  continued 
expansion of the airline.  The upgraded system  gives the  Company the ability to offer  more enhancements to 
passengers, as the new platform is far more flexible in terms of future development. Under the agreement with 
the  system-provider,  Navitaire,  the  system  serves  as  Ryanair‘s  core  seating  inventory  and  booking  system.  In 
return for access to these system functions, Ryanair pays transaction fees that are generally based on the number 
of  passenger  seat  journeys  booked  through  the  system.  Navitaire  also  retains  a  back-up  booking  engine  to 
support  operations  in  the  event  of  a  breakdown  in  the  main  system.  Over  the  last  several  years,  Ryanair  has 
introduced  a  number  of  Internet-based  customer  service  enhancements  such  as  Internet  check-in,  priority 
boarding  service  and  limited  reserved  seating  in  January  2012.    Since  October  2009,  Ryanair  has  required 
Internet check-in for all passengers. These enhancements and changes have been made to reduce waiting time at 
airports and speed a passenger‘s journey from arrival at the airport to boarding, as well as significantly reduce 
airport handling costs. Ryanair has also introduced a checked-bag fee, which is payable on the Internet and is 
aimed at reducing the number of bags carried by passengers in order to further reduce handling costs. See Item 
3.  Key  Information—Risk  Factors—Risks  Related  to  the  Company—Ryanair  Faces  Risks  Related  to 
Unauthorized Use of Information from the Company‘s Website.‖ 

61 

 
 
 
 
 
Aircraft 

AIRCRAFT 

As of June 30, 2012, Ryanair‘s operating fleet was composed of 294 Boeing 737-800 ―next generation‖ 
aircraft, each having 189 seats. Ryanair‘s fleet totaled 294 Boeing 737-800s at March 31, 2012. The Company 
expects to have an operating fleet comprising 305 Boeing 737-800s at March 31, 2013.  

Between  March  1999  and  March  2012,  Ryanair  took  delivery  of  333  new  Boeing  737-800  ―next 
generation‖  aircraft  under  its  contracts  with  Boeing  (and  disposed  of  39  such  aircraft  including  13  lease 
handbacks).  

Ryanair entered into a series of agreements with Boeing for Boeing 737-800 ―next generation‖ aircraft 
starting in 1998. As of January 2005, 89 firm-order aircraft remained to be delivered under those agreements, 
and  the  Company  had  options  to  purchase  an  additional  123  aircraft.  On  February  24,  2005,  the  Company 
announced that it had entered into a new agreement with Boeing for the purchase of a further 70 new Boeing 
737-800s as well as purchase options for an additional 70 such aircraft.  

Under  the  terms  of  the  2005  Boeing  contract,  while  the  basic  price  per  aircraft  that  was  applicable 
under the prior contracts continued to apply to the firm-order aircraft that remained to be delivered and purchase 
options outstanding thereunder, these firm-order and option aircraft became subject to the commercial and other 
terms  applicable  to  the  firm-order  aircraft  under  the  2005  Boeing  contract,  including  benefiting  from  more 
favorable price concessions. 

On  December  18,  2009,  the  Company  announced  that  it  was  unable  to  conclude  negotiations  with 
Boeing  in  respect  of  a  new  agreement  for  the  purchase  of  100  new  Boeing  737-800  series  aircraft  (with  an 
option to purchase an additional 100) for delivery during the period 2013 to 2015. Although the Company had 
reached  agreement  with  Boeing  in  relation  to  the  aircraft  price  and  delivery  dates  it  was  unable  to  conclude 
negotiations regarding other terms and conditions. The Company has not entered into any agreement to purchase 
additional  aircraft.  However,  on  June  22,  2011,  the  Company  signed  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding  with 
COMAC, a Chinese aircraft manufacturer, to co-operate and work together in relation to the development of a 
174-200 seat commercial aircraft.  

Ryanair expects to take delivery of a further 11 aircraft under its contracts with Boeing over the period 
from  June  30,  2012  to  March  31,  2013.  These  deliveries  will  increase  the  size  of  Ryanair‘s  fleet  to  305  by 
March 2013 (assuming that the planned disposal or return (under the terms of an operating lease) of four such 
aircraft is completed on schedule).  As of June 30, 2012, Ryanair had either sold to third parties or returned to 
the  relevant  lessor  43  Boeing  737-800  aircraft.  Depending  on  market  conditions  and  various  other 
considerations,  Ryanair  expects  to  either  dispose  of  four  more  aircraft  or  return  such  aircraft  to  the  relevant 
lessor during the period through March 31, 2014.  

For  additional  details  on  the  Boeing  contracts,  scheduled  aircraft  deliveries  and  related  expenditures 
and  their  financing,  as  well  as  the  terms  of  the  arrangements  under  which  Ryanair  currently  leases  55  of  the 
aircraft in its operating fleet, see ―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital 
Resources.‖  

Management believes that the purchase of the final 11 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft will allow Ryanair 
to  continue  to  grow  over  the  next  two  years.  Management  also  believes  that  the  significant  size  of  its  orders 
allowed Ryanair to obtain favorable purchase terms, guaranteed deliveries, and a standard configuration for all 
of the aircraft it purchased.  

The  Boeing  737  is  the  world‘s  most  widely  used  commercial  aircraft  and  exists  in  a  number  of 
generations,  the  Boeing  737-800s  being  the  most  recent.  Management  believes  that  spare  parts  and  cockpit 
crews  qualified  to  fly  these  aircraft  are  likely  to  be  more  widely  available  on  favorable  terms  than  similar 
resources for other types of aircraft. Management believes that its strategy, to date, of having reduced its fleet to 
one aircraft type enables Ryanair to limit the costs associated with personnel training, the purchase and storage 
of spare parts, and maintenance. Furthermore this strategy affords Ryanair greater flexibility in the scheduling of 
crews  and  equipment.  The  Boeing  737-800s  are  fitted  with  CFM  56-7B  engines  and  have  advanced  CAT  III 
Autoland  capability,  advanced  traffic  collision  avoidance  systems,  and  enhanced  ground-proximity  warning 

62 

 
 
systems.  On  July  20,  2011,  Boeing  announced  that  it  was  seeking  approval  from  its  Board  of  Directors  to 
manufacture  a  variant  of  the  737  with  new,  more  fuel-efficient  engines.  This  new  variant  could  impact  the 
Company insofar as the residual value of its aircraft could be reduced if this new variant is produced. 

At March 31, 2012, the average aircraft age of the Company‘s Boeing 737-800 fleet was just over 3.8 

years. 

Training and Regulatory Compliance 

Ryanair currently owns and operates four Boeing 737-800 full flight simulators for pilot training, the 
first  of  which  was  delivered  in  2002.  The  simulators  were  purchased  from  CAE  Electronics  Ltd.  of  Quebec, 
Canada  (―CAE‖).  The  second  simulator  was  delivered  in  2004,  while  the  third  and  fourth  simulators  were 
delivered in the 2008 fiscal year. In September 2006, Ryanair entered into a new contract with CAE to purchase 
B737NG Level B flight simulators. Two of these simulators were delivered in the 2009 fiscal year. This contract 
also provides Ryanair with an option to purchase another five such simulators. The gross price of each simulator 
is approximately $8 million, not taking into account certain price concessions provided by the seller in the form 
of credit memoranda and discounts.  

Management  believes  that  Ryanair  is  currently  in  compliance  with  all  applicable  regulations  and  EU 
directives concerning its fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will comply with any regulations or EU directives 
that may come into effect in the  future. However, there can be no assurance that the FAA or other regulatory 
authorities  will  not  recommend  or  require  other  safety-related  undertakings  that  could  adversely  impact  the 
Company‘s results of operations or financial condition. See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Safety-
Related Undertakings Could Affect the Company‘s Results.‖ 

ANCILLARY SERVICES  

Ryanair provides various ancillary services and engages in other activities connected with its core air 
passenger  service,  including  non-flight  scheduled  services,  Internet-related  services,  and  the  in-flight  sale  of 
beverages,  food,  and  merchandise.  See  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—Results  of 
Operations—Fiscal  Year  2012  Compared  with  Fiscal  Year  2011—Ancillary  Revenues‖  for  additional 
information. 

As  part  of  its  non-flight  scheduled  and  Internet-related  services  Ryanair  incentivizes  ground  service 
providers at many of the airports it serves to levy correct excess baggage charges for any baggage that exceeds 
Ryanair‘s  published  baggage  allowances  and  to  collect  these  charges  in  accordance  with  Ryanair‘s  standard 
terms and conditions. Excess baggage charges are recorded as non-flight scheduled revenue. 

Ryanair  primarily  distributes  accommodation  services  and  travel  insurance  through  its  website.  For 
hotel  services,  Ryanair  has  a  contract  with  Hotelscombined  PTY  Ltd.  (―Hotelscombined‖),  which  operates  a 
price  comparison  website,  pursuant  to  which  Hotelscombined  handles  all  aspects  of  such  services  marketed 
through  Ryanair‘s  website  and  pays  a  fee  to  Ryanair.  Ryanair  also  has  contracts  with  other  accommodation 
providers 
to  offer  hostel,  bed-and-breakfast,  guesthouse,  villa  and  apartment 
accommodation to its customers. In addition Ryanair has a contract with Hertz, pursuant to which Hertz handles 
all car rental services marketed through Ryanair‘s website or telephone reservation system.  

that  enable  Ryanair 

Ryanair  also  sells  bus  and  rail  tickets  onboard  its  aircraft  and  through  its  website.  Ryanair  also  sells 

attractions and activities on its website with the former going on sale in-flight in spring 2012. 

Ryanair sells gift vouchers on its website. Such gift vouchers are also redeemable online. In May 2009, 
Ryanair started to offer its passengers the possibility of receiving an SMS (text message) when booking, at a fee 
of £1.50 or €1.50, to inform them of their flight confirmation details.  

In  April  2009,  Ryanair  signed  a  contract  with  Webloyalty  International  Ltd,  which  offers  Ryanair‘s 
customers  who  have  a  UK,  German  or  French  billing  address  a  retail  discount  and  cash-back  program.  In 
February 2009, Ryanair introduced Google Adsense to its search results pages in order to monetize the traffic 
levels that those pages generate. In March 2009, Ryanair expanded further into the area of third-party Internet 
advertising with the introduction of third-party display advertising on the homepages on its website and, more 
recently, on the subpages of Ryanair.com. In April 2011, Ryanair began to sell advertising on its boarding cards. 

63 

 
 
In 2012, a boarding card redesign along with increased passengers is expected to provide further growth in this 
area. 

Ryanair has entered into agreements pursuant to which the Company promotes Ryanair-branded credit 
and prepaid cards issued by MBNA, GE Money, Access Prepaid (a Mastercard company) and Banco Santander 
on its Internet  site. The MBNA agreement relates to Irish residents only, the  GE Money agreement relates to 
Swedish  and  Polish  residents  only  and  the  Banco  Santander  agreement  relates  to  UK  residents  only.  Ryanair 
generates revenue from MBNA, GE Capital and Banco Santander on the basis of the number of cards issued and 
the  revenues  generated  through  the  use  of  the  credit  cards.  The  Access  Prepaid  Limited  prepaid  card  covers 
residents in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Germany. 

In fiscal year 2012, Ryanair rolled out handheld Electronic Point of Sale (―EPOS‖) devices across its 
route network. These EPOS devices replaced manual and paper based systems on board the aircraft. The EPOS 
device  enables  cabin  crew  to  sell  and  record  their  on-board  sales  transactions  more  efficiently  and  generate 
vastly improved management sales reporting. The EPOS device also issues bus and rail tickets and tickets for 
tourist attractions. 

In fiscal year 2011, Ryanair began offering reserved seating in twenty-one extra legroom seats on each 

aircraft for a fee on certain routes and this feature was rolled out to all routes in fiscal year 2012. 

General 

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS 

As  part  of  its  commitment  to  safety,  Ryanair  endeavors  to  hire  qualified  maintenance  personnel, 
provide  proper  training  to  such  personnel,  and  maintain  its  aircraft  in  accordance  with  European  industry 
standards. While  Ryanair  seeks to  maintain its  fleet  in a  cost-effective  manner,  management does  not  seek to 
extend Ryanair‘s low-cost operating strategy to the areas of maintenance, training or quality control. 

Ryanair‘s quality assurance department deals with oversight of all maintenance activities in accordance 
with Part 145. The European Aviation Safety Agency (―EASA‖), which established Part 145, came into being 
on September 28, 2003, through the adoption of Regulation (EC) No. 1592/2002 of the European Parliament, 
and its standards superseded the previous Joint Aviation Authority (―JAA‖) requirements. See ― Government 
Regulation Regulatory Authorities.‖  

Ryanair  is  itself  an  EASA  Part  145-approved  maintenance  contractor  and  provides  its  own  routine 
aircraft  maintenance  and  repair  services.  Ryanair  also  performs  certain  checks  on  its  aircraft,  including  pre-
flight,  daily,  and  transit  checks  at  some  of  its  bases,  as  well  as  A-checks  at  its  Dublin,  London  (Stansted), 
Glasgow  (Prestwick),  Bremen  and  Frankfurt  (Hahn)  facilities.  Since  December  2003,  Ryanair  has  operated  a 
five-bay hangar facility at its base at Glasgow (Prestwick) in Scotland, where both A-checks and C-checks are 
performed on the fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The facility performs up to four C-checks per week, enabling 
Ryanair to perform all of the heavy maintenance that is currently required on its Boeing 737-800 fleet in-house.   

Ryanair opened a five-bay hangar and stores facility at its London (Stansted) airport base in October 
2008  to  allow  Ryanair  to  carry  out  additional  line  maintenance  on  its  expanding  fleet.  This  facility  also 
incorporates two  flight  simulator devices  with space  and provisions for two  more, together  with a  cabin crew 
trainer and associated training rooms. Ryanair has completed the building of a separate training facility adjacent 
to  the  hangar  to  accommodate  a  full  size  737NG  training  aircraft  to  allow  for  cabin  crew  and  engineering 
training.  Ryanair  carries  out  checks  and  line  maintenance  in  its  single-bay  aircraft  hangar  facility  in  Bremen. 
Ryanair  has  also  entered  into  a  30-year  sole-tenancy  agreement  with  Frankfurt  (Hahn)  airport  and  has  taken 
acceptance  of  a  two-bay  hangar  and  stores  facility  that  also  incorporates  a  two-bay  simulator-training  center. 
This  facility  was  completed  in  January  2011  and  allows  Ryanair  to  carry  out  additional  line  maintenance 
including A checks.  

Maintenance and repair services that may become necessary while an aircraft is located at some of the 
other  airports  served  by  Ryanair  are  provided  by  other  Part  145-approved  contract  maintenance  providers. 
Aircraft return each evening to Ryanair‘s bases, where they are examined by Ryanair‘s approved engineers or, 
in  the  case  of  Brussels  (Charleroi),  Stockholm  (Skavsta),  Frankfurt  (Hahn),  Barcelona  (Girona),  Madrid, 
Alicante, Dusseldorf (Weeze), Bristol, Paphos and Billund, by local Part 145-approved companies.  

64 

 
 
Heavy Maintenance 

As  noted  above,  Ryanair  currently  has  sufficient  capacity  to  be  able  to  carry  out  all  of  the  routine 
maintenance  work  required  on  its  Boeing  737-800  fleet  itself.  Ryanair  opened  a  new  three-bay  maintenance 
hangar at Glasgow (Prestwick) airport in winter 2010 to accommodate the additional maintenance requirements 
arising from its expanding and aging fleet.  

Ryanair  contracts  out  engine  overhaul  service  for  its  Boeing  737-800  aircraft  to  General  Electric 
Engine Services pursuant to a 10-year agreement with an option for a 10-year extension, signed in 2004. This 
comprehensive maintenance contract provides for the repair and overhaul of the CFM56-7B series engines fitted 
to the  first 155 of Ryanair‘s Boeing 737-800 aircraft,  the repair of parts and general technical support for the 
fleet of engines. On June 30, 2008, the Company finalized a contract for a similar level of coverage and support 
for the engines on all of its aircraft that have been or are scheduled to be delivered pursuant to the Company‘s 
current contracts with Boeing over the period through November 2012. Due to the fact that engines on recently 
delivered aircraft  will not require  a  scheduled engine overhaul prior to the expiry of the current contract  with 
GE,  Ryanair  has  decided,  at  this  time,  not  to  take  up  its  option  to  have  engines  delivered  with  aircraft  after 
October  2010  covered  by  this  contract.  General  Electric  Engine  Services  mainly  uses  its  Part  145-approved 
repair facility in Cardiff, Wales for this work, but also uses the KLM Part 145-approved facility in Amsterdam, 
and  occasionally  its  Part  145-approved  facility  in  Celma,  Brazil.  By  contracting  with  experienced  Part  145-
approved maintenance providers, management believes it is better able to ensure the quality of its aircraft and 
engine  maintenance.  Ryanair  assigns  a  Part  145-certified  mechanic  to  oversee  all  heavy  maintenance  and  to 
authorize all engine overhauls performed by third parties. Maintenance providers are also monitored closely by 
the national authorities under EASA and national regulations.  

Ryanair expects to be dependent on external service contractors, particularly for engine and component 
maintenance, for the foreseeable future, notwithstanding the additional capabilities provided by its maintenance 
facilities at Glasgow (Prestwick), London (Stansted) and Frankfurt (Hahn). See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk 
Factors—Risks Related to the Company—The Company Is Dependent on External Service Providers.‖  

SAFETY RECORD 

Ryanair has not had a single passenger or flight crew fatality in its 27-year operating history. Ryanair 
demonstrates its commitment to safe operations through its safety training procedures, its investment in safety-
related  equipment,  and  its  adoption  of  an  internal  confidential  reporting  system  for  safety  issues.  The 
Company‘s  Board  of  Directors  also  has  an  air  safety  committee  to  review  and  discuss  air  safety  and  related 
issues.  Michael  Horgan,  a  Company  director,  is  the  chairman  of  this  committee  and  reports  to  the  Board  of 
Directors. 

Ryanair‘s  flight  training  is  oriented  towards  accident  prevention  and  covers  all  aspects  of  flight 
operations. Ryanair maintains full control of the content and delivery of all of its flight crew training, including 
initial, recurrent, and upgrade phases. All training programs are approved by the Irish Aviation Authority (the 
―IAA‖),  which  regularly  audits  both  operation  control  standards  and  flight  crew  training  standards  for 
compliance with EU legislation.  

All of the Boeing 737-800s that Ryanair has bought or committed to buy are certified for Category IIIA 

landings (automatic landings with minimum horizontal visibility of 200 meters and a 50 feet decision height). 

Ryanair  has  a  comprehensive  and  documented  safety  management  system.  Management  encourages 
flight crews to report any safety-related issues through the Safety  Alert Initial Report reporting program or to 
use  the  confidential  reporting  system,  which  is  available  online  through  Ryanair‘s  Crewdock  system.  The 
confidential reporting system affords flight crews the opportunity to report directly to Flight Safety Officer any 
event,  error,  or  discrepancy  in  flight  operations  that  they  do  not  wish  to  report  through  standard  reporting 
channels. The confidential reporting system is designed to increase management‘s awareness of problems that 
may be encountered by flight crews in their day-to-day operations. Management uses the information reported 
through all reporting systems to modify operating procedures and improve flight operation standards. 

Ryanair  has  installed  an  Operational  Flight  Data  Monitoring  (OFDM)  system  on  each  of  its  Boeing 
737-800  aircraft,  which  automatically  provides  a  confidential  report  on  variations  from  normal  operating 
limitations detected during the course of each flight. The purpose of this system is to monitor operational trends 

65 

 
 
and  inform  management  of  any  instance  of  an  operational  limit  being  exceeded.  By  analyzing  these  reports, 
management is able to identify undesirable trends and potential areas of risk, so as to take steps to rectify such 
deviations, thereby ensuring adherence to Ryanair‘s flight safety standards.  

In November 2008, a Ryanair aircraft suffered a multiple bird strike during its final approach to Rome 
(Ciampino) airport. This incident caused substantial damage to the aircraft, which resulted in an insurance claim 
being filed in respect of this aircraft. The damage that it suffered was such that the aircraft was not repaired. It is 
scheduled as a ―disposal‖ in the table on page 91, although Ryanair has retained ownership of it for certain parts 
and for training purposes. 

Airport Handling Services 

 AIRPORT OPERATIONS 

Ryanair  provides  its  own  aircraft  and  passenger  handling  and  ticketing  services  at  Dublin  Airport. 
Third parties provide these services to Ryanair at most other airports it serves. Servisair plc provides Ryanair‘s 
ticketing, passenger and aircraft handling, and ground handling services at many of these airports in Ireland and 
the U.K. (excluding London (Stansted) Airport where these services are provided primarily by Swissport Ltd.), 
while  similar  services  in  continental  Europe  are  generally  provided  by  the  local  airport  authorities,  either 
directly  or  through  sub-contractors.  Management  attempts  to  obtain  competitive  rates  for  such  services  by 
negotiating multi-year contracts at fixed prices. These contracts are generally scheduled to expire in one to five 
years,  unless  renewed,  and  certain  of  them  may  be  terminated  by  either  party  before  their  expiry  upon  prior 
notice. Ryanair will need to enter into similar agreements in any new  markets it may enter. See ―Item 3. Key 
Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Company—The Company Is Dependent on External Service 
Providers.‖ 

During  2009,  Ryanair  introduced  Internet  check-in  for  all  passengers  and  also  introduced  kiosks  at 
certain  airports  for  the  provision  of  other  services.  The  Company  has  these  kiosks  in  operation  at  Dublin, 
London  (Stansted),  London  (Gatwick),  Frankfurt  (Hahn),  and  many  of  its  other  bases.  The  introduction  of 
Internet  check-in  and  kiosks  combined  with  the  reduction  in  the  number  of  bags  carried  by  passengers  are 
expected to enable Ryanair to achieve further reductions in airport handling costs.  

Airport Charges 

As with other airlines, Ryanair must pay airport charges each time it lands and accesses facilities at the 
airports  it  serves.  Depending  on  the  policy  of  the  individual  airport,  such  charges  can  include  landing  fees, 
passenger  loading  fees,  security  fees  and  parking  fees.  Ryanair  attempts  to  negotiate  discounted  fees  by 
delivering annual increases in passenger traffic, and opts, when practicable, for less expensive facilities, such as 
less convenient gates and the use of outdoor boarding stairs rather than more expensive jetways. Nevertheless, 
there can be no assurance that the airports Ryanair uses will not impose higher airport charges in the future and 
that any such increases would not adversely affect the Company‘s operations. 

As  a  result  of  rising  airport  charges  and  the  introduction  of  an  Air  Travel  Tax  of  €10 on  passengers 
departing from Irish airports on routes longer than 300 kilometers from Dublin Airport (€2 on shorter routes), 
Ryanair reduced its fleet at Dublin airport to 13 during winter 2010 (down from 22 in summer 2008 and 20 in 
winter 2008). The introduction of the aforementioned €10 tax has likely had a negative impact on the number of 
passengers  traveling  to  and  from  Ireland.  The  Dublin  Airport  Authority  (―DAA‖)  has  reported  that  passenger 
volumes  declined  by  25%  from  30  million  in  2007  to  22 million  in  2011.  Ryanair  believes  that  this  is  partly 
reflective of the negative impact of the tax on Irish travel. Ryanair has called for the elimination of the tax to 
stimulate  tourism  during  the  recession.  The  Company  has  cited  the  example  of  the  Dutch  government,  which 
withdrew its travel tax with effect from July 1, 2009. The Dutch travel tax had ranged from  €11 for short-haul 
flights to  €45 for long-haul  flights and  had resulted in a  significant decline  in passenger volumes at  Schiphol 
Airport,  Holland‘s  main  airport,  according  to  data  published  by  the  airport.  Ryanair  also  complained  to  the 
European Commission about the unlawful differentiation in the level of the Irish Air Travel tax between routes 
within the EU. From April 2011 a single rate (€3) of the Air Travel Tax has been introduced on all routes. In 
May 2011 the Irish Government announced that it would abolish the Air Travel Tax, although no details were 
provided  as  to  when  this  decision  would  be  implemented.  No  assurance  can  be  given  that  the  tax  will  be 
abolished or indeed that a higher rate of tax will not be applied in the future, which could have a negative impact 
on  demand  for  air  travel.  In  June  2011,  Ryanair  proposed  to  the  Irish  Government  that  it  would  deliver  an 

66 

 
 
incremental 5 million passengers per annum over a five year period in return for reduced airport charges and the 
abolition of the €3 air travel tax. Despite the fact that this offer was renewed in 2012, as of July 20, 2012, the 
Company has not yet received a positive response to this proposal. 

Both the Belgian and Greek governments planned to introduce similar taxes; however, they have now 
cancelled plans to introduce these taxes. The German government introduced an €8 passenger tax on January 1, 
2011 for all departing domestic or short-haul passengers and a passenger tax of €25 for all departing passengers 
on flights bound for southern Europe and northern Africa. The €8 tax was reduced to €7.50 in January 2012. In 
addition, the Austrian government introduced an ecological air travel levy of €8 effective January 1, 2011. 

In  March  2007,  the  discount  arrangement  formerly  in  place  at  London  (Stansted)  airport  terminated, 
subjecting  Ryanair  to  an  average  increase  in  charges  of  approximately  100%.  The  increase  in  these  charges, 
which was passed on in the form of higher ticket prices, had a negative impact on yields and passenger volumes 
in  the  winter,  resulting  in  Ryanair‘s  decision  to  ground  seven  aircraft.  Ryanair  responded  to  the  increases  by 
filing complaints  with the U.K. Office  of Fair Trading (―OFT‖) and the Competition  Commission, calling for 
the break-up of the British Airports Authority plc (―BAA‖) monopoly and the introduction of competition in the 
London  airports  market.  The  OFT  referred  the  matter  to  the  Competition  Commission,  whose  preliminary 
findings were released in April 2008. The Competition Commission found that the common ownership by BAA 
of the three main airports in London affects competition and that a ―light touch‖ approach to regulating BAA by 
the Civil Aviation Authority was adversely impacting competition. The Competition Commission subsequently 
in  March  2009,  ordered  the  break-up  of  BAA,  a  reorganization  that  will  require  the  sale  of  both  London 
(Gatwick)  and  London  (Stansted)  airports  and  either  Glasgow  or  Edinburgh  Airport  in  Scotland.  In  October 
2009,  London  (Gatwick)  was  sold  to  Global  Infrastructure  Partners  for  £1.5  billion.  In  February  2010,  this 
decision by the Competition Commission was quashed by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (―Competition 
Appeal Tribunal‖) on the basis of an alleged appearance of bias on the part of one of the six  members of the 
Competition  Commission  panel.  However,  in  October  2010,  following  appeals  from  the  Competition 
Commission  and  Ryanair,  the  Court  of  Appeal  overturned  the  Competition  Appeals  Tribunal  ruling  and 
reinstated  the  Competition  Commission‘s  March  2009  decision  to  order  the  break-up  of  the  BAA  airport 
monopoly. In February 2011 BAA‘s request for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling was refused by 
the Supreme Court, putting an end to this appeal process. The Competition Commission meanwhile initiated a 
consultation  on  the  appropriateness  of  the  March  2009  remedies  given  the  passage  of  time.  In  July  2011  the 
Competition  Commission  confirmed  its  March  2011  provisional  decision  on  ―possible  material  changes  of 
circumstances.‖  It  found  that  no  material  changes  of  circumstances  (that  would  necessitate  a  change  in  the 
remedies package) have occurred since the March 2009 decision requiring the BAA to sell Gatwick, Stansted 
and  one  of  Glasgow  or  Edinburgh  airports,  and  that  consequently  the  BAA  should  proceed  to  dispose  of 
Stansted and one of the Scottish airports.  The BAA appealed this decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, 
and lost on February 1, 2012. The BAA then brought a further appeal to the Court of Appeal, which they also 
lost  on  July  26,  2012. The  BAA  then  announced  that  they  intend  to  appeal  this  decision  to  the  UK  Supreme 
Court in 2012. While these appeals were ongoing, the BAA proceeded to sell Edinburgh airport in April 2012. 
Ryanair believes that Stansted airport will be sold in the next 6-12 months, unless the BAA is successful in the 
Court of Appeal or unless it manages to appeal a negative Court of Appeal ruling to the Supreme Court,  which 
would likely delay the sale further.  Following the December 2003 publication of the U.K. government‘s White 
Paper on Airport Capacity in the Southeast of England, the BAA in 2004 announced plans to spend up to £4 
billion  on  a  multi-year  project  to  construct  a  second  runway  and  additional  terminal  facilities  at  London 
(Stansted) airport with a target opening date of 2013. Ryanair and other airlines using London (Stansted) support 
the  principle  of  a  second  runway  at  London  (Stansted),  but  are  opposed  to  this  development  because  they 
believe  that  the  financing  of  what  they  consider  to  be  an  overblown  project  will  lead  to  airport  costs 
approximately doubling from current levels. In May 2010 the BAA announced that it would not proceed with 
this £4 billion program.  

Ryanair announced on July 21, 2009 that, as a result of the U.K. government‘s then £10 APD tourist 
tax (as well as the then scheduled increase in APD from £10 to £11, which occurred in November 2009, from 
£11  to  £12  which  occurred  in  November  2010  and  from  £12  to  £13  in  April  2012)  and  the  high  costs  of 
operating at its London (Stansted) base, it would implement a 40% reduction in capacity at such base between 
October  2009  and  March  2010.  In  particular,  the  Company  announced  its  intention  to  reduce  its  London 
(Stansted)-based aircraft from the then current 40 to 24 during the aforementioned period, and also reduce by 
30% the number of weekly Ryanair flights to and from the airport. The Company announced at that time that it 
expected  these  cuts  to  result  in  2.5  million  fewer  passenger  trips  during  the  period.  In  addition,  on  June  29, 
2010,  due  to  the  continuance  of  the  U.K.  government‘s  £11  APD  tourist  tax  and  high  charges  at  London 
(Stansted) airport, the Company announced that capacity at London (Stansted) airport would be reduced from 
67 

 
 
winter 2010 by 17% and the  number of aircraft based at  London (Stansted)  would be reduced to 22. Ryanair 
also noted that, as a result of other capacity reductions at its U.K. bases except for the bases at Edinburgh and 
Leeds Bradford, its total U.K. capacity fell by 16% in the period from November 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011. 
See  ―Item  3.  Risk  Factors Risks  Related  to  the  Company Ryanair‘s  Continued  Growth  is  Dependent  on 
Access to Suitable  Airports; Charges  for  Airport  Access are Subject to Increase.‖ See also ―Item 8. Financial 
Information Other  Financial  Information Legal  Proceedings EU  State  Aid-Related  Proceedings‖  for 
information  regarding  legal  proceedings  in  which  Ryanair‘s  economic  arrangements  with  several  publicly 
owned airports are being contested. 

FUEL 

The cost of jet fuel accounted for approximately 43% and 39% of Ryanair‘s total operating expenses in 
the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively (in each case, this accounts for costs after giving 
effect to the Company‘s fuel hedging activities but excludes de-icing costs, which accounted for approximately 
1% of total fuel costs in each of the  fiscal  years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011). Jet fuel costs experienced 
substantial variance in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.  The future availability and cost of jet 
fuel cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty, and Ryanair‘s low-fares policy limits its ability to pass on 
increased  fuel  costs  to  passengers  through  increased  fares.  Jet  fuel  prices  are  dependent  on  crude  oil  prices, 
which  are  quoted  in  U.S.  dollars.  If  the  value  of  the  U.S.  dollar  rises  against  the  euro,  Ryanair‘s  fuel  costs, 
expressed in euro, may increase even absent any increase in the U.S. dollar price of jet fuel. Ryanair has also 
entered  into  foreign  currency  forward  contracts  to  hedge  against  some  currency  fluctuations.  See  ―Item  11. 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Foreign Currency Exposure and Hedging.‖ 

Ryanair  has  historically  entered  into  arrangements  providing  for  substantial  protection  against 
fluctuations  in  fuel  prices,  generally  through  forward  contracts  covering  periods  of  up  to  18  months  of 
anticipated  jet  fuel  requirements.  Ryanair  (like  many  other  airlines)  has,  in  more  recent  periods,  entered  into 
hedging arrangements on a much more selective basis. As of July 27, 2012, Ryanair had entered into forward jet 
fuel (jet kerosene) contracts covering approximately 90% of its estimated requirements for the fiscal year ending 
March 31, 2013 at prices equivalent to approximately $1,000 per metric ton. In addition, as of July 27, 2012, 
Ryanair had entered into forward jet fuel (jet kerosene) contracts covering approximately 50% of its estimated 
requirements for the  first  half of  the fiscal  year ending March 31, 2014 at prices equivalent  to approximately 
$935 per  metric  ton,  and  had  not  entered  into  any  jet  fuel  hedging  contracts  with  respect  to  its  expected  fuel 
purchases beyond that period. See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Company—
Changes  in  Fuel  Costs  and  Fuel  Availability  Affect  the  Company‘s  Results  and  Increase  the  Likelihood  of 
Adverse Impact to the Company‘s Profitability‖ and ―Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About 
Market Risk—Fuel Price Exposure and Hedging‖ for additional information on recent trends in fuel costs and 
the  Company‘s related hedging activities, as  well as certain associated risks.  See also  ―Item 5. Operating and 
Financial Review and Prospects—Fiscal Year 2012 Compared with Fiscal Year 2011—Fuel and Oil.‖ 

The  following  table  details  Ryanair‘s  fuel  consumption  and  costs  for  scheduled  operations  (i.e.  it 
excludes  costs  related  to  de-icing  and  EU  emissions  trading  costs)  after  giving  effect  to  the  Company‘s  fuel 
hedging activities for fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The excluded de-icing costs amounted 
to €9.3 million, €11.2 million and €11.6 million, respectively, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 
and 2010. De-icing costs are costs incurred for the labor and anti-freeze used to de-ice aircraft. The excluded EU 
emissions trading costs amounted to €2.2 million, nil and nil, respectively for the fiscal years ended March 31, 
2012, 2011 and 2010.  

68 

 
 
 
Fiscal Year ended March 31, 

2012 

          2011 

          2010 

Scheduled fuel consumption 

(millions of U.S. gallons) ....................................  
Available seat miles (ASM) (millions) ....................  
Scheduled fuel consumption (U.S. gallons)  

per ASM .............................................................  
Total scheduled fuel costs (a) (€ millions) ...............  
Cost per U.S. gallon .................................................  
Total scheduled fuel costs as a percentage 

762.5 
71,139.7 

0.011 
1,582.1 
€2.075 

of total operating costs ........................................  

42.7% 

(a)  Omits de-icing costs and EU emissions trading costs. 

INSURANCE 

692.2 
63,358.3 

0.011 
1,215.8 
€1.756 

38.7% 

582.5 
53,469.6 

0.011 
882.3 
€1.515 

34.1% 

Ryanair  is  exposed  to  potential  catastrophic  losses  that  may  be  incurred  in  the  event  of  an  aircraft 
accident  or  terrorist  incident.  Any  such  accident  or  incident  could  involve  costs  related  to  the  repair  or 
replacement of a damaged aircraft and its consequent temporary or permanent loss from service. In addition, an 
accident or incident could result in  significant legal claims against  the Company  from injured passengers and 
others  who  experienced  injury  or  property  damage  as  a  result  of  the  accident  or  incident,  including  ground 
victims.  Ryanair  maintains  aviation  third-party  liability  insurance,  passenger  liability  insurance,  employer 
liability insurance, directors and officers liability insurance, aircraft insurance for aircraft loss or damage, and 
other  business  insurance  in  amounts  per  occurrence  consistent  with  industry  standards.  Ryanair  believes  its 
insurance coverage is adequate, although not comprehensive. There can be no assurance that the amount of such 
coverage will not need to be increased, that insurance premiums will not increase significantly or that Ryanair 
will not be forced to bear substantial losses from accidents. Ryanair‘s insurance does not cover claims for losses 
incurred  when,  due  to  unforeseen  events,  airspace  is  closed  and  aircraft  are  grounded,  such  as  the  airspace 
closures described on page 51, which resulted from volcanic ash in the northern European airspace during April 
and May 2010. 

The cost of insurance coverage for certain third-party liabilities arising from ―acts of war‖ or terrorism 
increased  dramatically  as  a  result  of  the  September  11,  2001  terrorist  attacks.  In  the  immediate  aftermath, 
aircraft  liability  war  indemnities  for  amounts  above  $50  million  were,  in  the  absence  of  any  alternative 
coverage, provided by the Irish Government at pre-September 11, 2001 levels of coverage on the basis of a per-
passenger surcharge. In March 2002, once such coverage was again commercially available, Ryanair arranged 
coverage to replace that provided by the government indemnity. The replacement insurance coverage operated 
on the basis of a per-passenger surcharge with an additional surcharge based on hull values. Ryanair‘s insurers 
have  indicated  that  the  scope  of  the  Company‘s  current  war-related  insurance  coverage  may  exclude  certain 
types of catastrophic incidents, which may result in the Company seeking alternative coverage. Ryanair to date 
has passed increased insurance costs on to passengers by means of a special ―insurance levy‖ on each ticket. 

During the 2006 fiscal year, Ryanair established Aviation Insurance (IOM) Limited (―AIL‖), a wholly 
owned insurance company subsidiary, to provide the Company with self-insurance as part of its ongoing risk-
management strategy.  AIL underwrites a portion of the Company‘s aviation insurance program,  which covers 
not only the Company‘s aircraft but also its liability to passengers and to third parties. AIL reinsures virtually all 
of  the  aviation  insurance  risk  it  underwrites  with  recognized  third  parties  in  the  aviation  reinsurance  market, 
with the amount of  AIL‘s  maximum aggregate  exposure  not currently subject to such reinsurance agreements 
being equal to approximately $16.5 million. In addition to aviation insurance, AIL has underwritten most of the 
single trip travel insurance policies sold on Ryanair.com since February 1, 2011. 

Council Regulation (EC) No. 2027/97, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 889/2002, governs 
air  carrier  liability.  This  legislation  provides  for  unlimited  liability  of  an  air  carrier  in  the  event  of  death  or 
bodily  injuries  suffered  by  passengers,  implementing  the  Warsaw  Convention  of  1929  for  the  Unification  of 
Certain Rules Relating to Transportation by Air, as amended by the Montreal Convention of 1999. Ryanair has 
extended  its  liability  insurance  to  meet  the  appropriate  requirements  of  the  legislation.  See  ―Item  3.  Key 
Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Airline Industry—The Company Faces the Risk of Loss and 
Liability‖ for information on the Company‘s risks of loss and liability.  

69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FACILITIES 

The following are the principal properties owned or leased by the Company: 

Location 

Site Area 
(Sq. Meters) 

Floor Space 
(Sq. Meters) 

Tenure 

Activity 

Dublin Airport .........................  
Dublin Airport (Hangar No. 1)  
Dublin Airport (Hangar No. 2) 
Dublin Airport Business Park ..  
Phoenix House, 
Conyngham Road, Dublin .......  
Satellite 3, 
Stansted Airport .......................  

Stansted Airport (Hangar) .......  
Stansted Airport .......................  
Stansted Storage Facilities .......  
East Midlands Airport .............  
East Midlands Airport .............  

Bremen Airport ........................  
Skavsta Airport (Hangar) ........  
Prestwick Airport (Hangar) .....  
Frankfurt (Hahn) Airport 
(Hangar) ..................................  
Kaunas Airport (Hangar) .........  
Rygge Airport (Hangar) ..........  

1,116 
1,620 
5,200 
955 

2,566 

605 

12,161 
375 
378 
3,890 
2,045 

5,952 
1,936 
10,052 

5,064 
1,700 
1,700 

1,395  Leasehold  Corporate Headquarters 
1,620  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 
5,000  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 

749  Leasehold  Administration Offices 

3,899  Freehold 

605  Leasehold 

Administration Offices 
Operations Center and 
Administrative Offices 
Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 
and Simulator Training Center 
Training Centre 

10,301  Leasehold 
375  Leasehold 
531  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 

634  Leasehold 

2,801  Freehold 

Simulator and Training Center 
Training Center 
Terminal and Aircraft 
5,874  Leasehold 
Maintenance Hangar 
1,936  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 
10,052  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 

Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 
and Simulator Training Center 

5,064  Leasehold 
1,700  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 
1,700  Leasehold  Aircraft Maintenance 

Ryanair has agreements with the DAA, the Irish government authority charged with operating Dublin 
Airport,  to  lease  bag-drop  counters  and  other  space  at  the  passenger  and  cargo  terminal  facilities  at  Dublin 
Airport. The airport office facilities used by Ryanair at London (Stansted) are leased from the airport authority; 
similar  facilities  at  each  of  the  other  airports  Ryanair  serves  are  provided  by  Servisair  plc  or  other  service 
providers. 

TRADEMARKS 

Ryanair‘s logo and the slogans ―Ryanair.com The Low Fares Website‖  and ―Ryanair The Low Fares 
Airline‖ have been registered as Community Trade Marks (―CTMs‖). Ryanair has also registered the CTM for 
the  word  ―Ryanairhotels.com.‖  A  CTM  allows  a  trademark  owner  to  obtain  a  single  registration  of  its 
trademark,  which  registration  affords  uniform  protection  for  that  trademark  in  all  EU  member  states.  The 
registration gives Ryanair an exclusive monopoly over the use of its trade name with regard to similar services 
and  the  right  to  sue  for  trademark  infringement  should  another  party  use  an  identical  or  confusingly  similar 
trademark in relation to identical, or similar services.  

Ryanair has not registered either its name or its logo as a trademark in Ireland, as CTM-registration provides all 
of the protection available from an Irish registration, and management believes there are therefore no advantages 
in making a separate Irish application.  

70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ryanair‘s trademarks include: 

-  Community (Word) Trade Mark registration number 004168721 comprised of the  word ―Ryanair‖ in 

classes 16, 28, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 42 (Nice Classification);   

-  Community (Figurative) Trade Mark registration number 001493329 comprising the following graphic 

representation: 

in classes 16, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 42 (Nice Classification) and class 27.5.1 (Vienna classification);  

-  Community (Figurative) Trade Mark registration number 00446559 comprising the following graphic 

representation: 

in classes 16, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 42 (Nice Classification) and class 22.1.16 (Vienna classification); 

-  Community (Figurative) Trade Mark registration number 000338301     

comprising the following graphic representation:  

in classes 16, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 42 (Nice Classification) and class 22.1.16 (Vienna classification) 

Liberalization of the EU Air Transportation Market 

GOVERNMENT REGULATION 

Ryanair began its flight operations in 1985, during a decade in which the governments of Ireland and 
the  U.K.  liberalized  the  bilateral  arrangements  for  the  operation  of  air  services  between  the  two  countries.  In 
1992,  the  Council  of  Ministers  of  the  EU  adopted  a  package  of  measures  intended  to  liberalize  the  internal 
market  for  air  transportation  in  the  EU.  The  liberalization  included  measures  that  allow  EU  air  carriers 
substantial freedom to set air fares, provided EU air carriers greatly enhanced access to routes within the EU, 
and  also  introduced  a  licensing  procedure  for  EU  air  carriers.  Beginning  in  April  1997,  EU  air  carriers  have 
generally been able to provide passenger services on domestic routes within any EU member state outside their 
home country of operations without restriction. See also ―

Industry Overview European Airline Market.‖ 

Regulatory Authorities  

Ryanair  is  subject  to  Irish  and  EU  regulation,  which  is  implemented  primarily  by  the  Department  of 
Transport, the IAA, the European Commission, and the EASA. Management believes that the present regulatory 
environment  in  Ireland  and  the  EU  is  characterized  by  high  sensitivity  to  safety  and  security  issues,  which  is 
demonstrated by intensive reviews of safety-related procedures, training, and equipment by the national and EU 
regulatory authorities. 

Commission  for  Aviation  Regulation.  The  CAR  is  currently  primarily  responsible  for  deciding 

maximum airport charges only at Dublin Airport. See ― Airport Operations Airport Charges‖ above.  

71 

 
 
  
 
 
 
  
       
 
 
        
 
The CAR also has responsibility for licensing Irish airlines, subject to the requirements of EU law. It 
issues  operating  licenses  under  the  provisions  of  EU  Regulation  1008/2008  (formerly  2407/92).  An  operating 
license is an authorization permitting the  holder to transport passengers, mail and/or cargo by air. The criteria 
for  granting  an  operating  license  include,  inter  alia,  an  air  carrier‘s  financial  fitness,  the  adequacy  of  its 
insurance,  and  the  fitness  of  the  persons  who  will  manage  the  air  carrier.  In  addition,  in  order  to  obtain  and 
maintain  an  operating  license,  Irish  and  EU  regulations  require  that  (i)  the  air  carrier  must  be  owned  and 
continue  to  be  owned  directly  or  through  majority  ownership  by  EU  member  states  and/or  nationals  of  EU 
member states and (ii) the air carrier must at all times be effectively controlled by such EU member states or EU 
nationals. The CAR has broad authority to revoke an operating license. See ―Item 10. Additional Information––
Limitations  on  Share  Ownership  by  Non-EU  Nationals.‖  See  also  ―Item  3.  Risk  Factors––Risks  Related  to 
Ownership of the Company‘s Ordinary Shares or ADRs—EU Rules Impose Restrictions on the Ownership of 
Ryanair Holdings‘ Ordinary Shares by Non-EU nationals and the Company has Instituted a Ban on the Purchase 
of Ordinary Shares by Non-EU Nationals‖ above. 

The  CAR  is  also  responsible  for  deciding  whether  a  regulated  airport  should  be  coordinated  or  fully 
coordinated under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 95/93 (as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 793/2004) on slots 
and  for  authorizing  ground  handling  operations  under  Council  Directive  96/67/EC  and  its  implementing 
legislation. In April 2005, the CAR announced that Dublin Airport would be fully slot-coordinated beginning in 
March  2006.  Ryanair  successfully  challenged  this  decision  in  the  Irish  High  Court,  and  the  decision  was 
overturned  in  July  2006.  In  February  2007,  the  CAR  re-imposed  full  coordination  at  Dublin  Airport.  Ryanair 
again challenged this decision in the Irish High Court, but subsequently withdrew the challenge. See ―—Slots‖ 
below for additional information regarding this litigation.  

Ryanair‘s current operating license became effective on December 1, 1993,  and is subject to periodic 
review. The Flight Operations Department is also subject to ongoing review by the Irish Aviation Authority (the 
IAA),  which  reviews  the  department‘s  audits,  including  flight  audits,  training  audits,  document  audits,  and 
quality audits. Ryanair‘s current Air Operator Certificate No IE 7/94 was issued on January 26, 2011.  

Irish Aviation Authority. The IAA is primarily responsible for the operational and regulatory function 
and services relating to the safety and technical aspects of aviation in Ireland. To operate in Ireland and the EU, 
an Irish air carrier is required to hold an operator‘s certificate granted by the IAA attesting to the air carrier‘s 
operational and technical competence to conduct airline services with specified types of aircraft. The IAA has 
broad  authority  to  amend  or  revoke  an  operator‘s  certificate,  with  Ryanair‘s  ability  to  continue  to  hold  its 
operator‘s  certificate  being  subject  to  ongoing  compliance  with  applicable  statutes,  rules  and  regulations 
pertaining to the airline industry, including any new rules and regulations that may be adopted in the future. 

The IAA is also responsible for overseeing and regulating the operations of Irish air carriers. Matters 
within the scope of the IAA‘s regulatory authority include: air safety; aircraft certification; personnel licensing 
and training; maintenance, manufacture, repair, airworthiness, and operation of aircraft; implementation of EU 
legislation; aircraft noise; and ground services. Each of the Company‘s aircraft is required to have a Certificate 
of  Airworthiness,  which  is  issued  by  the  IAA.  The  validity  of  Certificates  of  Airworthiness  is  subject  to  the 
review  of  a  committee  of  the  IAA.  Each  certificate  is  generally  valid  for  a  12-month  period.  In  March  2009, 
Ryanair received ―Sub-Part (I) approval‖ from the IAA, which gives Ryanair the authority to extend the validity 
of  its  certificates,  subject  to  certain  record  checks  and  physical  aircraft  inspections  being  performed  by 
Ryanair‘s quality department. The Company‘s flight personnel, flight and emergency procedures, aircraft, and 
maintenance  facilities are subject to periodic inspections and tests by the IAA. The IAA  has broad regulatory 
and  enforcement  powers,  including  the  authority  to  require  reports;  inspect  the  books,  records,  premises,  and 
aircraft  of  a  carrier;  and  investigate  and  institute  enforcement  proceedings.  Failure  to  comply  with  IAA 
regulations can result in revocation of operating certification.  

In July 1999, the IAA awarded Ryanair an air operator‘s certificate, which is subject to routine audit 
and  review,  in  recognition  of  Ryanair‘s  satisfaction  of  the  relevant  EU  requirements  for  the  operation  of 
commercial air transport (―EU OPS 1‖). The requirements of EU OPS 1 have been incorporated into European 
law as prescribed in Regulation (EEC) 3922/91 and were applied in full on July 16, 2008. All current regulatory 
requirements are addressed in the Ryanair Operations Manual Part A (as amended). The current Manual, Issue 3 
Revision 7, was approved by the IAA on April 1, 2011. 

Department of Transport. The Department of Transport (―DOT‖) is responsible for implementation of 
certain EU and Irish legislation and international standards relating to air transport (e.g., noise levels, aviation 
security, etc.). 

72 

 
 
In June 2005, the Irish Minister for Transport enacted legislation strengthening rights for air passengers 
following the enactment of EU legislation requiring compensation of airline passengers who have been denied 
boarding on a flight for which they hold a valid ticket (Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004), which came into force 
on  February  17,  2005.  See  ―Item  3.  Risk  Factors—Risks  Related  to  the  Airline  Industry—EU  Regulation  on 
Passenger Compensation Could Significantly Increase Related Costs.‖ 

The  European  Aviation  Safety  Agency.  EASA  is  an  agency  of  the  EU  that  has  been  given  specific 
regulatory and executive tasks in the  field of aviation  safety.  EASA  was established through Regulation (EC) 
No. 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council of July 15, 2002. The purpose of EASA is to draw-
up common standards to ensure the highest levels of safety, oversee their uniform application across Europe and 
promote them at the global level. The EASA formally started its work on September 28, 2003, taking over the 
responsibility for regulating airworthiness and maintenance issues within the EU member states.  

Eurocontrol.  The  European  Organization  for  the  Safety  of  Air  Navigation  (―Eurocontrol‖)  is  an 
autonomous  European  organization  established  under  the  Eurocontrol  Convention  of  December  13,  1960. 
Eurocontrol is responsible for, inter alia, the safety of air navigation and the collection of route charges for en 
route  air  navigation  facilities  and  services  throughout  Europe.  Ireland  is  a  party  to  several  international 
agreements concerning Eurocontrol. These agreements have been implemented in Irish law, which provides for 
the  payment  of  charges  to  Eurocontrol  in  respect  of  air  navigation  services  for  aircraft  in  airspace  under  the 
control  of  Eurocontrol.  The  relevant  legislation  imposes  liability  for  the  payment  of  any  charges  upon  the 
operators of the aircraft in respect of which services are provided and upon the owners of such aircraft or the 
managers  of  airports  used  by  such  aircraft.  Ryanair,  as  an  aircraft  operator,  is  primarily  responsible  for  the 
payment to Eurocontrol of charges incurred in relation to its aircraft. 

The legislation authorizes the detention of aircraft in the case of default in the payment of any charge 
for  air  navigation  services  by  the  aircraft  operator  or  the  aircraft  owner,  as  the  case  may  be.  This  power  of 
detention extends to any equipment, stores or documents, which may be onboard the aircraft when it is detained, 
and may result in the possible sale of the aircraft. 

European Commission. The European Commission is in the process of introducing a ―single European 
sky  policy,‖  which  would  lead  to  changes  to  air  traffic  management  and  control  within  the  EU.  The  ―single 
European  sky  policy‖  currently  consists  of  the  Framework  Regulation  (Reg.  (EC)  No.  549/2004)  plus  three 
technical  regulations  on  the  provision  of  air  navigation  services,  organization  and  use  of  the  airspace  and  the 
interoperability of the European air traffic management network. These regulations have recently been amended 
by the so-called ―Single European Sky II‖ regulation (EU Regulation 1070/09). The objective of the policy is to 
enhance safety standards and the overall efficiency of air traffic in Europe, as well as to reduce the cost of air 
traffic control services. 

On  September  6,  2005,  the  European  Commission  announced  new  guidelines  on  the  financing  of 
airports and start-up aid to airlines by regional airports based on its February 2004 finding in the Charleroi case, 
a  decision  that  the  CFI  has  since  annulled  in  December  2008.  The  guidelines  only  apply  to  publicly  owned 
regional airports, and place restrictions on the incentives  that these airports can offer airlines to deliver traffic. 
Ryanair  believes  that  the  CFI‘s  annulment  of  the  Charleroi  decision  severely  undermines  these  guidelines.  In 
April 2011, the European Commission launched a consultation on the revision of the 2005 guidelines. However, 
no assurance can be given that the revised guidelines will better reflect the commercial reality of the liberalized 
air transport market and consequently allow public airports to offer similar incentives to those offered by private 
airports. 

The  European  Union  also  adopted  legislation  on  airport  charges  (EU  Directive  2009/12),  which  was 
originally  intended  to  address  abusive  pricing  at  monopoly  airports.  However,  the  legislation  includes  all 
European airports with over five million passengers per year. Management believes that this will likely increase 
the administrative burdens on smaller airports and may lead to higher airport charges, while the scope that exists 
within this Directive to address abuses of their dominant positions by Europe‘s larger airports is very limited. 
See  ―Item  7.  Major  Shareholders  and  Related-Party  Transactions  Other  Financial  Information Legal 
Proceedings EU State Aid-Related Proceedings.‖ 

The  European Union also passed legislation calling  for increased transparency in airline fares,  which 
requires the inclusion of all mandatory taxes, fees, and charges in advertised prices. Ryanair currently includes 
this information in its advertised fares in all markets where it operates. However, certain regulatory authorities 

73 

 
 
have alleged that some fees applied by airlines, including Ryanair, on an avoidable basis are in fact mandatory. 
Ryanair  amended  its  website  to  include  information  on  fees  in  June  2012  and  plans  to  incorporate  further 
changes to meet these requirements on its website in August 2012 and December 2012. 

Registration of Aircraft 

Pursuant  to  the  Irish  Aviation  Authority  (Nationality  and  Registration  of  Aircraft)  Order  2002  (the 
―Order‖),  the  IAA  regulates  the  registration  of  aircraft  in  Ireland.  In  order  to  be  registered  or  continue  to  be 
registered in Ireland, an aircraft must be wholly owned by either (i) a citizen of Ireland or a citizen of another 
member state of the EU having a place of residence or business in Ireland or (ii) a company registered in and 
having a  place of business in Ireland and  having its principal place of business  in Ireland or another  member 
state  of  the  EU  and  not  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  directors  of  which  are  citizens  of  Ireland  or  of  another 
member  state  of  the  EU.  As  of  the  date  of  this  report,  seven  of  the  nine  directors  of  Ryanair  Holdings  are 
citizens  of  Ireland  or  of  another  member  state  of  the  EU.  An  aircraft  will  also  fulfill  these  conditions  if  it  is 
wholly  owned  by  such  citizens  or  companies  in  combination.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  these  particular 
conditions  may  not  be  met,  the  IAA  retains  discretion  to  register  an  aircraft  in  Ireland  so  long  as  it  is  in 
compliance with the other conditions for registration under the Order. Any such registration may, however, be 
made subject to certain conditions. In order to be registered, an aircraft must also continue to comply with any 
applicable provisions of Irish law. The registration of any aircraft can be cancelled if it is found that it is not in 
compliance  with  the  requirements  for  registration  under  the  Order  and,  in  particular:  (i)  if  the  ownership 
requirements  are  not  met;  (ii)  if  the  aircraft  has  failed  to  comply  with  any  applicable  safety  requirements 
specified by the IAA in relation to the aircraft or aircraft of a similar type; or (iii) if the IAA decides in any case 
that it is not in the public interest for the aircraft to remain registered in Ireland. 

Regulation of Competition 

Competition/Antitrust Law. It is a general principle of EU competition law that no agreement may be 
concluded between two or more separate economic undertakings that prevents, restricts or distorts competition 
in the common market or any part of the common market. Such an arrangement may nevertheless be exempted 
by  the  European  Commission,  on  either  an  individual  or  category  basis.  The  second  general  principle  of  EU 
competition law is that any business or businesses having a dominant position in the EU common market or any 
substantial  part  of  the  common  market  may  not  abuse  such  dominant  position.  Ryanair  is  subject  to  the 
application  of  the  general  rules  of  EU  competition  law  as  well  as  specific  rules  on  competition  in  the  airline 
sector.  

An aggrieved person may sue for breach of EU competition law in the courts of a member state and/or 
petition the European Commission for an order to put an end to the breach of competition law. The European 
Commission also may impose fines and daily penalties on businesses and the courts of the member states may 
award damages and other remedies (such as injunctions) in appropriate circumstances.  

Competition law in Ireland is primarily embodied in the Competition Act 2002. This Act is modeled on 
the  EU  competition  law  system.  The  Irish  rules  generally  prohibit  anti-competitive  arrangements  among 
businesses and prohibit the abuse of a dominant position. These rules are enforced either by public enforcement 
(primarily by the Competition Authority) through both criminal and civil sanctions or by private action in the 
courts. These rules apply to the airline sector, but are subject to EU rules that override any contrary provisions 
of  Irish  competition  law.  Ryanair  has  been  subject  to  an  abuse-of-dominance  investigation  by  the  Irish 
Competition  Authority  in  relation  to  service  between  Dublin  and  Cork.  The  Competition  Authority  closed  its 
investigation in July 2009 with a finding in favor of Ryanair. 

State  Aid.  The  EU  rules  control  aid  granted  by  member  states  to  businesses  on  a  selective  or 
discriminatory basis. The EU Treaty prevents member states from granting such aid unless approved in advance 
by  the  EU.  Any  such  grant  of  state  aid  to  an  airline  is  subject  to  challenge  before  the  EU  or,  in  certain 
circumstances, national courts. If aid is held to have been unlawfully granted it  may  have to be repaid by the 
airline  to  the  granting  member  state,  together  with  interest  thereon.  See  ―Item  3.  Key  Information Risk 
Factors Risks Related to the Company—The Company Is Subject to Legal Proceedings Alleging State Aid at 
Certain Airports‖ and ―Item 8. Financial Information Other Financial Information Legal Proceedings.‖ 

74 

 
 
Environmental Regulation 

Aircraft Noise Regulations. Ryanair is subject to international, national and, in some cases, local noise 
regulation standards. EU and Irish regulations have required that all aircraft operated by Ryanair comply with 
Stage  3  noise  requirements  since  April  1,  2002.  All  of  Ryanair‘s  aircraft  currently  comply  with  these 
regulations.  Certain  airports  in  the  U.K.  (including  London  Stansted  and  London  Gatwick)  and  continental 
Europe have established local noise restrictions, including limits on the number of hourly or daily operations or 
the time of such operations. 

Company  Facilities.  Environmental  controls  are  generally  imposed  under  Irish  law  through  property 
planning legislation, specifically the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts of 1963 to 1999, the 
Planning and Development Act 2000 and regulations made thereunder. At Dublin Airport, Ryanair operates on 
land controlled by the DAA. Planning permission for its facilities has been granted in accordance with both the 
zoning  and  planning  requirements  of  Dublin  Airport.  There  is  also  specific  Irish  environmental  legislation 
implementing applicable EU directives and regulations, to which Ryanair adheres. From time to time, noxious 
or potentially toxic substances are held on a  temporary basis  within Ryanair‘s engineering  facilities at Dublin 
Airport,  Glasgow  (Prestwick),  London  (Stansted),  Frankfurt  (Hahn),  Stockholm  (Skavsta),  Oslo  (Rygge)  and 
Kaunas.  However,  at  all  times  Ryanair‘s  storage  and  handling  of  these  substances  complies  with  the  relevant 
regulatory  requirements.  At  Ryanair‘s  Glasgow  (Prestwick)  and  London  (Stansted)  maintenance  facilities,  all 
normal waste is removed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act of 1996 and Duty of Care Waste 
Regulations.  For  special  waste  removal,  Ryanair  operates  under  the  Special  Waste  Regulations  1998.  At  all 
other facilities Ryanair adheres to all local and EU regulations.  

Ryanair’s  Policy  on  Noise  and  Emissions.  Ryanair  is  committed  to  reducing  emissions  and  noise 
through  investments  in  ―next  generation‖  aircraft  and  engine  technologies  and  the  implementation  of  certain 
operational and commercial decisions to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. According to the 
latest  Air  Travel  Carbon  and  Energy  Efficiency  Report  published  by  Brighter  Planet,  Ryanair  is  the  industry 
leader  in  terms  of  environmental  efficiency,  and  the  Company  is  constantly  working  towards  improving  its 
performance. 

In  December  2005,  Ryanair  completed  the  fleet  replacement  program  it  commenced  in  1999.  All  of 
Ryanair‘s  older  Boeing  737-200A  aircraft  were  replaced  with  Boeing  737-800  ―next  generation‖  aircraft,  and 
Ryanair now operates a single-aircraft-type fleet of Boeing 737-800 ―next generation‖ aircraft with an average 
age of just over 3.8 years. The design of the new aircraft is aimed at minimizing drag, thereby reducing the rate 
of fuel burn and noise levels. The engines are also quieter and more fuel-efficient. Furthermore, by moving to an 
all Boeing 737-800 ―next generation‖ fleet, Ryanair reduced the unit emissions per passenger due to the inherent 
capacity  increase  in  the  Boeing  737-800  aircraft.  The  Boeing  737-800  ―next  generation‖  aircraft  have  a 
significantly  superior  fuel-burn  to  passenger-kilometer  ratio  than  Ryanair‘s  former  fleet  of  Boeing  737-200A 
aircraft. See ―—Aircraft‖ above for details on Ryanair‘s fleet plan. 

Ryanair has also installed winglets on all of its existing aircraft and all future aircraft will also be fitted 
with  winglets. Winglets reduce both the rate  of fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions  by approximately 4% 
and also reduce noise emissions.  

In addition, Ryanair has distinctive operational characteristics that management believes are helpful to 

the general environment. In particular, Ryanair: 

operates with a high-seat density of 189 seats and an all-economy configuration, as opposed to 
the 162 seats and two-class configuration of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft used by traditional 
network airlines, reducing fuel burn and emissions per seat-kilometer flown;  

has reduced per-passenger emissions through higher load factors; 

better utilizes existing infrastructure by operating out of underutilized secondary and regional 
airports  throughout  Europe,  which  limits  the  use  of  holding  patterns  and  taxiing  times,  thus 
reducing fuel burn and emissions and reducing the need for new airport infrastructure;  

75 

 
 
 
 
 
provides  direct  services  as  opposed  to  connecting  flights,  in  order  to  limit  the  need  for 
passengers to transfer at main hubs and thus reduces the number of take-offs and landings per 
journey from four to two, reducing fuel burn and emissions per journey; and 

has no late-night departures of aircraft, reducing the impact of noise emissions. 

 Emissions Trading. On November 19, 2008, the European Council of Ministers adopted legislation to 
add aviation to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as of 2012. This scheme, which has thus far applied mainly 
to energy producers, is a cap-and-trade system for CO2 emissions to encourage industries to improve their CO2 
efficiency. Under the legislation, airlines were granted initial CO2 allowances based on historical ―revenue ton 
kilometers‖  and  a  CO2  efficiency  benchmark.  Any  shortage  of  allowances  has  to  be  purchased  in  the  open 
market and/or at government auctions. The Company has estimated its carbon credit requirements in respect of 
2012 and has hedged its exposures at a cost of approximately €10 to €15 million. Management believes that this 
legislation is likely to have a negative impact on the European airline industry.  Ryanair takes its environmental 
responsibilities  seriously  and  intends  to  continue  to  improve  its  environmental  efficiency  and  to  minimize 
emissions.  

Aviation Taxes. Ryanair is fundamentally opposed to the introduction of any aviation taxes, including 
any environmental taxes, fuel taxes or emissions levies. Ryanair has and continues to offer the lowest fares in 
Europe, to make passenger air travel affordable and accessible to European consumers. Ryanair believes that the 
imposition of additional taxes on airlines will not only increase airfares, but will discourage new entrants into 
the market, resulting in less choice for consumers. Ryanair believes this would ultimately have adverse effects 
on  the  European  economy  in  general.  There  is  in  particular  no  justification  for  any  environmental  taxes  on 
aviation following the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme for airlines. 

As a company, Ryanair believes in free market competition and that the imposition of aviation taxation 
would favor the less efficient flag carriers – which generally have smaller and older aircraft, lower load factors, 
and a much higher fuel burn  per passenger, and  which operate  primarily into congested  airports  – and reduce 
competition. Furthermore, the introduction of a tax at a European level only would distort competition between 
airlines  operating  solely  within  Europe  and  those  operating  also  outside  of  Europe.  We  believe  that  the 
introduction of such a tax would also be incompatible with international law. See ―Item 3. Key Information—
Risk Factors—Introduction of New or Increases in Existing Aviation Taxes Could Increase Costs.‖  

Airport charges 

The EU Airport Charges Directive of March 2009 sets forth general principles that are to be followed 
by airports  with  more than  five  million passenger per annum, and all capital city airports irrespective of their 
passenger  throughput,  when  setting  airport  charges,  and  provides  for  an  appeals  procedure  for  airlines  in  the 
event they are not satisfied with the level of charges. However, Ryanair does not believe that this procedure will 
be  effective  or  that  it  will  constrain  those  airports  that  are  currently  abusing  their  dominant  position,  in  part 
because the legislation was mis-transposed in certain countries, such as Ireland, so as to deprive airlines of even 
the basic safeguards provided for in the Directive. This legislation  may in fact lead to  higher airport charges, 
depending on how its provisions are applied by EU member states and subsequently by the courts.  

Slots 

Currently, the majority of Ryanair‘s bases of operations have no ―slot‖ allocation restrictions; however, 
traffic at a substantial number of the airports Ryanair serves, including its primary bases, are regulated by means 
of ―slot‖ allocations, which represent authorizations to take off or land at a particular airport within a specified 
time period. In addition, EU law currently regulates the acquisition, transfer, and loss of slots. Applicable EU 
regulations  currently  prohibit  the  buying  or  selling  of  slots  for  cash.  The  European  Commission  adopted  a 
regulation  in  April  2004  (Regulation  (EC)  No.  793/2004)  that  made  some  minor  amendments  to  the  current 
allocation system, allowing for limited transfers of, but not trading in, slots. Slots may be transferred from one 
route to another by the same carrier, transferred within a group or as part of a change of control of a carrier, or 
swapped between carriers. In April 2008, the European Commission issued a communication on the application 
of the slot allocation regulation, signaling the acceptance of secondary trading of airport slots between airlines. 
This is expected to allow more flexibility and mobility in the use of slots and will further enhance possibilities 
for  market  entry  at  slot  constrained  airports.  Any  future  legislation  that  might  create  an  official  secondary 
market  for  slots  could  create  a  potential  source  of  revenue  for  certain  of  Ryanair‘s  current  and  potential 

76 

 
 
 
 
competitors,  many  of  which  have  many  more  slots  allocated  at  primary  airports  at  present  than  Ryanair.  The 
European Union is currently considering such proposals as part of a review of the slots legislation announced in 
December  2011.  Slot  values  depend  on  several  factors,  including  the  airport,  time  of  day  covered,  the 
availability of slots and the class of aircraft. Ryanair‘s ability to gain access to and develop its operations at slot-
controlled airports will be affected by the availability of slots for takeoffs and landings at these specific airports. 
New entrants to an airport are currently given certain privileges in terms of obtaining slots, but such privileges 
are subject to the grandfathered rights of existing operators that are utilizing their slots. While Ryanair generally 
seeks  to  avoid  slot-controlled  airports,  there  is  no  assurance  that  Ryanair  will  be  able  to  obtain  a  sufficient 
number of slots at the slot-controlled airports that it desires to serve in the future at the time it needs them or on 
acceptable terms. 

Other 

Health and occupational safety issues relating to the Company are largely addressed in Ireland by the 
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and other regulations under that act. Although licenses or permits 
are  not  issued  under  such  legislation,  compliance  is  monitored  by  the  Health  and  Safety  Authority  (the 
―Authority‖), which is the regulating body in this area. The Authority periodically reviews Ryanair‘s health and 
safety record and when appropriate, issues improvement notices or prohibition notices. Ryanair has responded 
to  all  such  notices  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Authority.  Other  safety  issues  are  covered  by  the  Irish  Aviation 
Orders, which may vary from time to time.  

The Company‘s operations are subject to the general laws of Ireland and, insofar as they are applicable 
in Ireland, the laws of the EU. The Company may also become subject to additional regulatory requirements in 
the  future.  The  Company  is  also  subject  to  local  laws  and  regulations  at  locations  where  it  operates  and  the 
regulations of various local authorities that operate the airports it serves.   

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY 

For  certain  information  about  each  of  the  Company‘s  key  facilities,  see  ―—Facilities‖  above. 

Management believes that the Company‘s facilities are suitable for its needs and are well maintained. 

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments 

There are no unresolved staff comments. 

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects 

The  following  discussion  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  audited  consolidated  financial 
statements of the Company and the notes thereto included in Item 18. Those consolidated financial statements 
have been prepared in accordance with IFRS.  

HISTORY 

Ryanair‘s current business strategy dates to the early 1990s, when a new management team, including 
the current chief executive, commenced the restructuring of Ryanair‘s operations to become a low-fares airline 
based  on  the  low-cost  operating  model  pioneered  by  Southwest  Airlines  Co.  in  the  United  States.  During  the 
period  between  1992  and  1994,  Ryanair  expanded  its  route  network  to  include  scheduled  passenger  services 
between Dublin and Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow (Prestwick). In 1994, Ryanair began standardizing 
its fleet by purchasing used Boeing 737-200A aircraft to replace substantially all of its leased aircraft. Beginning 
in  1996,  Ryanair  continued  to  expand  its  service  from  Dublin  to  new  provincial  destinations  in  the  U.K.  In 
August 1996, Irish Air, L.P., an investment vehicle led by David Bonderman and certain of his associates at the 
Texas Pacific Group, acquired a minority interest in the Company. Ryanair Holdings completed its initial public 
offering in June 1997. 

From  1997  through  June  30,  2012,  Ryanair  launched  service  on  more  than  1,500  routes  throughout 
Europe and also increased the frequency of service on a  number of its principal routes. During that period, in 
addition  to  Dublin,  Ryanair  established  51  airports  as  bases  of  operations.  See  ―Item  4.  Information  on  the 
Company—Route System, Scheduling and Fares‖ for a list of these bases. Ryanair has increased the number of 
booked passengers from 4.9 million in the 1999 fiscal year to approximately 75.8 million in the 2012 fiscal year. 

77 

 
 
Ryanair had 294 Boeing 737-800 aircraft as of June 30, 2012, and now serves approximately 160 airports with a 
team of over 8,500 people.  

Ryanair  expects  to  have  305  aircraft  in  its  operating  fleet  by  March  31,  2013.  During  the  period 
through March 2014, the Company may hand back up to four Boeing 737-800 aircraft, as leases mature, thereby 
reducing the size of the Company‘s fleet to 301 aircraft. See ― Liquidity and Capital Resources‖ and ―Item 4. 
Information on the Company Aircraft‖ for additional details. 

BUSINESS OVERVIEW 

Since Ryanair pioneered its ultra low cost operating model in Europe in the early 1990s, its passenger 
volumes  and  scheduled  passenger  revenues  have  increased  significantly  because  it  has  substantially  increased 
capacity  and  demand  has  been  sufficient  to  match  the  increased  capacity.  Ryanair‘s  annual  booked  passenger 
volume  has  grown  from  approximately  945,000  passengers  in  the  calendar  year  1992  to  approximately  75.8 
million passengers in the 2012 fiscal year. 

Ryanair‘s revenue passenger miles (―RPMs‖) increased approximately 10% from 53,256.9 million in 
the  2011 fiscal  year to 58,584.5 million in the 2012 fiscal year due primarily to an increase of approximately 
12%  in  scheduled  available  seat  miles  (―ASMs‖)  from  63,358.3  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year  to  71,139.7 
million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year.  Scheduled  passenger  revenues  increased  approximately  24%  from  €2,827.9 
million in the 2011 fiscal year to €3,504.0 million in the 2012 fiscal year. Average yield per RPM was €0.053 in 
the 2011 fiscal year and €0.059 in the 2012 fiscal year.  

Expanding  passenger  volumes  and  capacity,  high  load  factors  and  aggressive  cost  containment  have 
enabled Ryanair to continue to generate operating profits despite increasing price competition and increases in 
certain costs. Ryanair‘s total break-even load factor was 72% in the 2011 fiscal year and 71% in the 2012 fiscal 
year.  Cost  per  ASM  was  €0.049  in  the  2011  fiscal  year  and  €0.051  in  the  2012  fiscal  year,  with  the  increase 
primarily reflecting the higher fuel cost per ASM of €0.022 in the 2012 fiscal year, as compared to €0.019 in the 
2011 fiscal year, as well as an increase of approximately 12% in ASMs in the 2012 fiscal year. Ryanair recorded 
operating  profits  of  €488.2  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year  and  €683.2  million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year.  The 
Company recorded a profit after taxation of €374.6 million in the 2011 fiscal year and profit after taxation of 
€560.4 million in the 2012 fiscal year. Ryanair recorded seat capacity growth of approximately 6% in the 2012 
fiscal  year,  compared  to  approximately  8%  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  and  expects  capacity  to  increase  by 
approximately 4% in the 2013 fiscal year. See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Ryanair Has Decided 
to Seasonally Ground Aircraft.‖ 

Investment in Aer Lingus 

The Company owns 29.8% of Aer Lingus, which it acquired in fiscal years 2007, 2008 and 2009 at a 
total cost of €407.2 million. Following the approval of its shareholders, management proposed in the 2007 fiscal 
year  to  effect  a  tender  offer  to  acquire  the  entire  share  capital  of  Aer  Lingus.  This  2006  offer  was,  however, 
prohibited by the European Commission on competition grounds in June 2007. Ryanair‘s management viewed 
the acquisition of Aer Lingus in the context of the overall trend of consolidation among airlines in Europe and 
believed that the acquisition would lead to the formation of one strong Irish airline group able to compete with 
large  carriers  such  as  Lufthansa,  Air  France/KLM  and  British  Airways/Iberia  (now  ―International  Airlines 
Group‖).  During  the  EU  competition  review,  the  Company  made  a  commitment  that  if  the  acquisition  was 
approved, Ryanair would eliminate Aer Lingus‘ fuel surcharges and reduce its fares, which would have resulted 
in  Aer  Lingus  passengers  saving  approximately  €100  million  per  year.  The  Company  was  thus  surprised  and 
disappointed by the European Commission‘s decision to prohibit this offer. This decision was the first adverse 
decision taken in respect of any EU airline merger and the first-ever adverse decision in respect of a proposed 
merger of two companies with less than 5% of the EU market for their services. Ryanair filed an appeal with the 
CFI, which was heard in July 2009. On July 6, 2010, the CFI upheld the Commission‘s decision.  

In  October  2007,  the  European  Commission  also  reached  a  formal  decision  that  it  would  not  force 
Ryanair to sell its shares in Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus appealed this decision before the CFI. This case was heard 
in July 2009 and on July 6, 2010 the court rejected Aer Lingus‘ appeal and confirmed that Ryanair cannot be 
forced to dispose of its 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus. However, EU legislation may change in the future to require 
such  a  forced  disposition.  If  eventually  forced  to  dispose  of  its  stake  in  Aer  Lingus,  Ryanair  could  suffer 

78 

 
 
significant losses due to the negative impact on market prices of the forced sale of such a significant portion of 
Aer Lingus‘ shares.  

On December 1, 2008, Ryanair made a new offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Aer Lingus it 
did not own at a price of €1.40 per ordinary share. Ryanair offered to keep Aer Lingus as a separate company, 
maintain the Aer Lingus brand, and retain its Heathrow slots and connectivity. Ryanair also proposed to double 
Aer  Lingus‘  short-haul  fleet  from  33  to  66  aircraft  and  to  create  1,000  associated  new  jobs  over  a  five-year 
period. If the offer had been accepted, the Irish government would have received over €180 million in cash. The 
employee share ownership trust and employees, who owned 18% of Aer Lingus, would have received over €137 
million in cash. The Company met Aer Lingus management, representatives of the employee share  ownership 
trust and other parties, including members of the Irish Government. The offer of €1.40 per share represented a 
premium of approximately 25% over the closing price of €1.12 for Aer Lingus shares on November 28, 2008. 
As the Company was unable to secure the shareholders‘ support, it decided on January 28, 2009 to withdraw its 
offer for Aer Lingus. 

The United Kingdom‘s Office of Fair Trading (―OFT‖) wrote to Ryanair in September 2010, advising 
that  it  intended  to  investigate  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus.  Ryanair  objected  on  the  basis  that  the 
OFT‘s investigation was time-barred. Ryanair maintains that the OFT had the opportunity, which it missed, to 
investigate Ryanair‘s minority stake within four months from the European Commission‘s June 2007 decision to 
prohibit  Ryanair‘s  takeover  of  Aer  Lingus.  The  OFT  agreed  in  October  2010  to  suspend  its  investigation 
pending  the  outcome  of  Ryanair‘s  appeal  against  the  OFT‘s  decision  that  its  investigation  is  within  time.  On 
July 28, 2011, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that the OFT was not time barred when it attempted in 
September 2010 to open an investigation into Ryanair‘s 2006 acquisition of a minority non-controlling stake in 
Aer  Lingus.    Ryanair  subsequently  appealed  the  Competition  Appeal  Tribunal‘s  decision.    On  November  24, 
2011, the UK Court of Appeal ordered a stay of the OFT‘s investigation pending the Courts review of whether 
the OFT‘s investigation was time barred.  On May 22, 2012, the Court of Appeal  found that the OFT was not 
time  barred  to  investigate  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  in  September  2010.    Ryanair  subsequently 
sought  permission  to  appeal  that  ruling  to  the  UK  Supreme  Court,  but  permission  was  refused.  On  June  15, 
2012,  the  OFT  referred  the  investigation  of  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  to  the  UK  Competition 
Commission. Ryanair welcomed the decision by the OFT to refer the case to the Competition Commission and 
Ryanair anticipates that the Competition Commission will agree with the decision of the European Commission 
in 2007 that since Ryanair has neither ―de factor or de jure control‖ in Aer Lingus, that it should not be forced to 
sell  down  its  minority  stake.    The  Competition  Commission  could  order  Ryanair  to  divest  some  or  all  of  its 
shares in Aer Lingus, as a result of which Ryanair could suffer significant losses due to the negative impact on 
market prices of the forced sale of such a significant portion of Aer Lingus‘ shares. 

On June 19, 2012, Ryanair made a third offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Aer Lingus it did 
not own at a price of €1.30 per ordinary share.  The timing of the offer has been influenced by: (1) the continued 
consolidation of European airlines, and more recently the International Airlines Group (the parent company of 
British Airways) takeover of British Midland International, where the No. 1 airline at Heathrow was allowed to 
acquire the  No. 2; (2) the additional capacity available at  Dublin airport following the  opening of Terminal 2 
and the decline in traffic from 23.3 million passengers per annum in 2007 to 18.7 million in 2011, has resulted 
in Dublin airport operating at approximately 50% capacity; (3) the change in the Irish government policy since 
2006 in that the Irish government has decided to sell its stake in Aer Lingus; (4) the fact that under the terms of 
the  bailout  agreement  provided  by  the  European  Commission,  European  Central  Bank  and  the  International 
Monetary Fund to Ireland, the Irish government has committed to sell its stake in Aer Lingus; (5) the fact that 
the ESOT (Employee Share Ownership Trust) which at the time of the unsuccessful 2006 offer controlled 15% 
of Aer Lingus, has been disbanded since December 2010 and the shares distributed to the individual members, 
with the result that Ryanair‘s new offer is, in Ryanair‘s view, capable of reaching over 50% acceptance either 
with or without government acceptance; and (6) the fact that recently Etihad, an Abu Dhabi based airline, has 
acquired a 3% stake in Aer Lingus and has expressed an interest in buying the government‘s 25% stake in Aer 
Lingus  (the  offer  now  provides  Etihad  or  any  other  potential  bidder  the  opportunity  to  purchase  the 
government‘s  stake).  Ryanair  is  willing  to  offer  the  European  Commission  appropriate  remedies  to  allay 
competition concerns and it believes that these remedies, as well as the efficiencies and synergies arising from 
the combination, should allow the Commission to approve this proposed merger.  

79 

 
 
 
 
Ryanair has offered to keep Aer Lingus as a separate company, maintain the Aer Lingus brand, and to 
grow  its  traffic  from  9.5  million  to  over  14.5  million  passengers  over  a  five  year  period  post  acquisition,  by 
growing Aer Lingus‘ short haul traffic at some of Europe‘s major airports where Aer Lingus currently operates 
and Ryanair does not. Ryanair also intends to increase Aer Lingus‘ transatlantic traffic from Ireland, which has 
fallen in recent  years, by investing in operations. If the  offer is accepted, the  Irish  government  would receive 
€173  million  in  cash.  The  offer  of  €1.30  per  share  represented  a  premium  of  approximately  38%  over  the 
closing  price  of  €0.94  for  Aer  Lingus  shares  as  of  June  19,  2012.  The  offer  is  conditional  on  competition 
approval  by  the  European  Commission.  The  Company  anticipates  that  the  EU  merger  review  process  will  be 
completed between September 2012 and February 2013.  

The available for sale financial asset balance sheet value of €149.7 million reflects the market value of 
the Company‘s stake in Aer Lingus as of March 31, 2012, as compared to a value of €114.0 million as of March 
31,  2011.  In  accordance  with  the  company‘s  accounting  policy,  this  investment  is  held  at  fair  value.  This 
investment is classified as available-for-sale, rather than as an investment in an associate, because the Company 
does  not  have  the  power  to  exercise  any  influence  over  Aer  Lingus.  The  change  in  the  available  for  sale 
financial asset from €114.0  million at March 31, 2011 to €149.7  million at March 31, 2012 is comprised of a 
gain of €35.7 million, recognised through other comprehensive income, reflecting the increase in the share price 
from  €0.72  per  share  at  March  31,  2011  to  €0.94  per  share  at  March  31,  2012.  All  impairment  losses  are 
required to be recognized in the income statement and are not subsequently reversed, while gains are recognized 
through other comprehensive income.  The investment had in prior periods been impaired to €0.50 per share.  In 
fiscal year 2010, the Company recorded an impairment charge of €13.5 million in the income statement on its 
Aer Lingus shareholding. 

The Company's determination that it does not have control, or even exercise a ―significant influence,‖ 

over Aer Lingus through its minority shareholding has been based on the following factors:  

(i) Ryanair does not have any representation on the Aer Lingus Board of Directors; nor does it have a right to 
appoint a director.  

(ii) Ryanair does not participate in Aer Lingus policy-making decisions; nor does it have a right to participate in 
such policy-making decisions. 

(iii) There are no material transactions between Ryanair and Aer Lingus, there is no interchange  of personnel 
between the two companies and there is no sharing of technical information between the companies. 

(iv) Aer Lingus and its significant shareholder (the Irish government: 25.1%) have historically openly opposed 
Ryanair‘s investment or participation in the company. 

(v) In August 2007, September 2007 and November/December 2011, Aer Lingus refused Ryanair‘s attempt to 
assert its statutory right to requisition a general meeting (a legal right of any 10% shareholder under Irish law).  

(vi) On April 15, 2011, the High Court in Dublin ruled that Aer Lingus was not obliged to accede to Ryanair‘s 
request that two additional resolutions (on the payment of a dividend and on payments to pension schemes) be 
put to vote at Aer Lingus‘ annual general meeting; and 

(vii) The European Commission has formally found that Ryanair‘s shareholding in Aer Lingus does not grant 
Ryanair ―de jure or de facto control of Aer Lingus‖ and that ―Ryanair‘s rights as a minority shareholder…are 
associated exclusively to rights related to the protection of minority shareholders‖ (Commission Decision Case 
No. COMP/M.4439 dated October 11, 2007). The European Commission‘s finding has been confirmed by the 
European Union's General Court  which issued a decision on July 6, 2010 that the  European Commission  was 
justified  to  use  the  required  legal  and  factual  standard  in  its  refusal  to  order  Ryanair  to  divest  its  minority 
shareholding in Aer Lingus and that, as part of that decision, Ryanair‘s shareholding did not confer control of 
Aer Lingus (Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) Case No. T-411/07 dated July 6, 2010). 

Historical Results Are Not Predictive of Future Results  

The historical results of operations discussed herein may not be indicative of Ryanair‘s future operating 
performance. Ryanair‘s  future results of operations  will be  affected by, among other things, overall passenger 
traffic volume; the availability of new airports for expansion; fuel prices; the  airline pricing environment in a 

80 

 
 
period  of  increased  competition;  the  ability  of  Ryanair  to  finance  its  planned  acquisition  of  aircraft  and  to 
discharge the resulting debt service obligations; economic and political conditions in Ireland, the U.K. and the 
EU;  terrorist  threats  or  attacks  within  the  EU;  seasonal  variations  in  travel;  developments  in  government 
regulations,  litigation  and  labor  relations;  foreign  currency  fluctuations,  the  impact  of  the  banking  crisis  and 
potential break-up of the euro, competition and the public‘s perception regarding the safety of low-fares airlines; 
the  value  of its equity stake in  Aer  Lingus; changes in aircraft acquisition, leasing, and other operating costs; 
flight interruptions caused by volcanic ash emissions or other atmospheric disruptions, the rates of income and 
corporate taxes paid, and the impact of the financial and eurozone crisis. Ryanair expects its depreciation, staff 
and  fuel  charges  to  increase  as  additional  aircraft  and  related  flight  equipment  are  acquired.  Future  fuel  costs 
may  also  increase  as  a  result  of  the  depletion  of  petroleum  reserves,  the  shortage  of  fuel  production  capacity 
and/or  production  restrictions  imposed  by  fuel  oil  producers.  Maintenance  expenses  may  also  increase  as  a 
result of Ryanair‘s fleet expansion and replacement program. In addition, the financing of new Boeing 737-800 
aircraft will increase the total amount of the Company‘s outstanding debt and the payments it is obliged to make 
to service such debt. The cost of insurance coverage for certain third-party liabilities arising from ―acts of war‖ 
or  terrorism  increased  dramatically  following  the  September  11,  2001  terrorist  attacks.  Although  Ryanair 
currently  passes  on  increased  insurance  costs  to  passengers  by  means  of  a  special  ―insurance  levy‖  on  each 
ticket,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  it  will  continue  to  be  successful  in  doing  so.  See  ―Item  3.  Key 
Information—Risk Factors—The 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the United States Had a Severe Negative Impact on 
the International Airline Industry.‖ 

RECENT OPERATING RESULTS 

The Company‘s profit after tax for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 (the first quarter of the Company‘s 
2013 fiscal year) was €98.8 million, as compared to €139.3 million for the corresponding period of the previous 
year. The Company recorded a decrease in operating profit, from €169.9 million in the first quarter of the 2012 
fiscal  year  to  €132.0  million  in  the  recently  completed  quarter.  Total  operating  revenues  increased  from 
€1,155.4  million  in  the  first  quarter  of  2012  to  €1,283.9  million  in  the  first  quarter  of  2013.  The  decrease  in 
operating profit was primarily due to a 27% increase in fuel costs, offset by a 4% increase in average fares and 
strong  ancillary  revenues.  Operating  expenses  increased  from  €985.5  million  in  the  first  quarter  of  2012  to 
€1,151.9 million in the first quarter of 2013, due primarily to the 27% increase in fuel costs and an increase in 
other  operating  costs  associated  with  a  higher  level  of  activity  in  line  with  the  growth  of  the  airline.  The 
Company‘s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and financial assets with terms of less than three months 
amounted to €3,807.6 million at June 30, 2012 as compared with €3,213.8 million at June 30, 2011. 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

The  following  discussion  and  analysis  of  Ryanair‘s  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  is 
based on its consolidated financial statements, which are included in Item 18 and prepared in accordance with 
IFRS.  

The  preparation  of  the  Company‘s  financial  statements  requires  the  use  of  estimates,  judgments,  and 
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the  date of the financial statements and 
the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the  periods  presented.  Actual  results  may  differ  from 
these estimates.  

The Company believes that its critical accounting policies, which are those that require management‘s 
most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, are those described in this section. These critical accounting 
policies,  the  judgments  and  other  uncertainties  affecting  application  of  these  policies  and  the  sensitivity  of 
reported  results  to  changes  in  conditions  and  assumptions  are  factors  to  be  considered  in  reviewing  the 
consolidated  financial  statements  included  in  Item  18  and  the  discussion  and  analysis  below.  For  additional 
detail  on  these  policies,  see  Note  1,  ―Basis  of  preparation  and  significant  accounting  policies,‖  to  the 
consolidated financial statements included in Item 18.  

Long-lived Assets 

As  of  March  31,  2012,  Ryanair  had  €4.9  billion  of  long-lived  assets,  virtually  all  of  which  were 
aircraft. In accounting for long-lived assets, Ryanair must make estimates about the expected useful lives of the 
assets, the expected residual values of the assets, and the potential for impairment based on the fair value of the 
assets and the cash flows they generate. 

81 

 
 
In estimating the lives and expected residual values of its aircraft, Ryanair has primarily relied on its 
own and industry experience, recommendations from Boeing, the manufacturer of all of the Company‘s aircraft, 
valuations from appraisers and other available marketplace information. Subsequent revisions to these estimates, 
which can be significant, could be caused by changes to Ryanair‘s maintenance program, changes in utilization 
of  the  aircraft,  governmental  regulations  on  aging  of  aircraft,  changes  in  new  aircraft  technology,  changes  in 
governmental and environmental taxes, changes in new aircraft fuel efficiency and changing market prices for 
new  and  used  aircraft  of  the  same  or  similar  types.  Ryanair  evaluates  its  estimates  and  assumptions  in  each 
reporting period, and,  when  warranted, adjusts these assumptions. Generally, these  adjustments are accounted 
for on a prospective basis, through depreciation expense. 

Ryanair  periodically  evaluates  its  long-lived  assets  for  impairment.  Factors  that  would  indicate 
potential  impairment  would  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  significant  decreases  in  the  market  value  of  an 
aircraft, a significant change in an aircraft‘s physical condition and operating or cash flow losses associated with 
the use of the aircraft. While the airline industry as a whole has experienced many of these factors from time to 
time, Ryanair has not yet been seriously impacted and continues to record positive cash flows from these long-
lived assets. Consequently, Ryanair has not yet identified any impairments related to its existing aircraft fleet. 
The Company will continue to monitor its long-lived assets and the general airline operating environment.  

The Company‘s estimate of the recoverable amount of aircraft residual values is 15% of current market 
value  of  new  aircraft,  determined  periodically,  based  on  independent  valuations  and  actual  aircraft  disposals 
during  prior  periods.  Aircraft  are  depreciated  over  a  useful  life  of  23  years  from  the  date  of  manufacture  to 
residual value. 

Heavy Maintenance 

An  element  of  the  cost  of  an  acquired  aircraft  is  attributed,  on  acquisition,  to  its  service  potential, 

reflecting the maintenance condition of the engines and airframe.  

For aircraft held under operating lease agreements, Ryanair is contractually committed to either return 
the  aircraft  in  a  certain  condition  or  to  compensate  the  lessor  based  on  the  actual  condition  of  the  airframe, 
engines and life-limited parts upon return. In order to fulfill such conditions of  the  lease,  maintenance, in the 
form  of  major  airframe  overhaul,  engine  maintenance  checks,  and  restitution  of  major  life-limited  parts,  is 
required  to  be  performed  during  the  period  of  the  lease  and  upon  return  of  the  aircraft  to  the  lessor.  The 
estimated  airframe  and  engine  maintenance  costs  and  the  costs  associated  with  the  restitution  of  major  life-
limited parts, are accrued and charged to profit or loss over the lease term for this contractual obligation, based 
on the present value of the estimated future cost of the major airframe overhaul, engine maintenance checks and 
restitution of major life-limited parts, calculated by reference to the number of hours flown or cycles operated 
during the year. 

Ryanair‘s  aircraft  operating  lease  agreements  typically  have  a  term  of  seven  years,  which  closely 
correlates  with  the  timing  of  heavy  maintenance  checks.  The  contractual  obligation  to  maintain  and  replenish 
aircraft  held  under  operating  lease  exists  independently  of  any  future  actions  within  the  control  of  Ryanair. 
While Ryanair may, in very limited circumstances, sub-lease its aircraft, it remains fully liable to perform all of 
its contractual obligations under the ‗head lease‘ notwithstanding any such sub-leasing. 

Both of these elements of accounting policies involve the use of estimates in determining the quantum 
of both the initial maintenance asset and/or the amount of provisions to be recorded and the respective periods 
over which such amounts are charged to income. In making such estimates, Ryanair has primarily relied on its 
own and industry experience, industry regulations and recommendations from Boeing; however, these estimates 
can be subject to revision, depending on a number of factors, such as the timing of the planned maintenance, the 
ultimate  utilization  of  the  aircraft,  changes  to  government  regulations  and  increases  or  decreases  in  estimated 
costs. Ryanair evaluates its estimates and assumptions in each reporting period and, when warranted, adjusts its 
assumptions,  which  generally  impact  maintenance  and  depreciation  expense  in  the  income  statement  on  a 
prospective basis.  

82 

 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  income  statement  data  (calculated  under  IFRS)  for  Ryanair 

expressed as a percentage of Ryanair‘s total revenues for each of the periods indicated: 

Total revenues ..............................................................  
  Scheduled revenues ...................................................  
  Ancillary revenues .....................................................  
Total operating expenses ..............................................  
  Staff costs ..................................................................  
  Depreciation ..............................................................  
  Fuel and oil ................................................................  
  Maintenance, materials and repairs ...........................  
  Aircraft rentals...........................................................  
  Route charges ............................................................  
  Airport and handling charges ....................................  
  Marketing, distribution and other ..............................  
Operating profit ............................................................  
Net interest income (expense) ......................................  
Other income (expenses) ..............................................  
Profit before taxation ....................................................  
Taxation .......................................................................  
Profit after taxation  .....................................................  

Fiscal Year ended March 31, 
          2011 

          2010 

2012 

100% 
79.8 
20.2 
84.5 
9.5 
7.0 
36.3 
2.4 
2.1 
10.5 
12.6 
4.1 
15.5 
(1.5) 
0.3 
14.3 
(1.7) 
12.6 

100% 
77.9 
22.1 
86.5 
10.4 
7.7 
33.8 
2.6 
2.7 
11.3 
13.5 
4.6 
13.4 
(1.8) 
- 
11.6 
(1.3) 
10.3 

100% 
77.8 
22.2 
86.5 
11.2 
7.9 
29.9 
2.9 
3.2 
11.3 
15.4 
4.8 
13.5 
(1.6) 
(0.5) 
11.4 
(1.2) 
10.2 

FISCAL YEAR 2012 COMPARED WITH FISCAL YEAR 2011 

Profit after taxation. Ryanair recorded a profit on ordinary activities after taxation of €560.4 million in 
the  2012  fiscal  year,  as  compared  with  a  profit  of  €374.6  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  This  profit  was 
primarily  attributable  to  an  increase  in  revenues  driven  by  a  15.6%  increase  in  average  fares  and  a  10.6% 
increase in ancillary revenues, partially offset by a 29.9% increase in fuel and oil costs from €1,227.0 million to 
€1,593.6 million. 

Scheduled revenues. Ryanair‘s scheduled passenger revenues increased 23.9%, from €2,827.9 million 
in the 2011 fiscal year, to €3,504.0 million in the 2012 fiscal year, primarily reflecting an increase of 15.6% in 
average fares. The number of passengers booked increased 5.2%, from 72.1 million to 75.8 million, reflecting 
increased passenger volumes on existing routes and the successful launch of new bases at Manchester, Wroclaw, 
Baden-Baden, Billund, Palma, Paphos and Budapest in the 2012 fiscal year. There was a one percentage point 
decrease in booked passenger load factors from 83% in fiscal 2011 to 82% in fiscal 2012. 

Passenger capacity (as measured in ASMs) during the 2012 fiscal year increased  by 12.3% due to the 
addition  of  22 Boeing  737-800  aircraft  (net  of  handbacks),  as  well  as  a  5.8%  increase  in  sectors  flown  and  a 
6.1% increase in the average length of passenger haul. Scheduled passenger revenues accounted for 79.8% of 
Ryanair‘s total revenues for the 2012 fiscal year, compared with 77.9% of total revenues in the 2011 fiscal year. 

During fiscal year 2012, changes in estimates relating to the timing of revenue recognition for unused 
passenger  tickets  were  made,  resulting  in  increased  revenue  in  the  2012  fiscal  year  of  €65.3  million.    This 
change reflects more accurate and timely data obtained through system enhancements. 

Ancillary revenues. Ryanair‘s ancillary revenues, which comprise revenues from non-flight scheduled 
operations, in-flight sales and Internet-related services, increased 10.6%, from €801.6 million in the 2011 fiscal 
year  to  €886.2  million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year,  while  ancillary  revenues  per  booked  passenger  increased  to 
€11.69 from €11.12. Revenues from non-flight scheduled operations, including revenues from excess baggage 
charges, debit and credit card transactions, sales of rail and bus tickets, accommodations, travel insurance and 
car  rental  increased  12.4%  to  €645.6  million  from  €574.2 million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  Revenues  from  in-
flight  sales  increased  6.4%,  to  €107.2  million  from  €100.7  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  Revenues  from 
Internet-related  services,  primarily  commissions  received  from  products  sold  on  Ryanair.com  or  linked 

83 

 
 
 
 
websites, increased 5.3%, from €126.7 million in the 2011 fiscal year to €133.4 million in the 2012 fiscal year. 
The  rate  of  increase  in  revenues  from  all  ancillary  revenue  categories  exceeded  the  increase  in  overall 
passengers booked. 

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  components  of  ancillary  revenues  earned  by  Ryanair  and  each 

component expressed as a percentage of total ancillary revenues for each of the periods indicated: 

Fiscal Year ended March 31, 

2012 

2011 
(in millions of euro, except percentage data) 

Non-flight Scheduled ..................  
In-flight Sales ..............................  
Internet-related ............................  
Total ............................................  

€645.6 
€107.2 
€133.4 
€886.2 

72.9% 
12.1% 
15.0% 
100.0% 

€574.2 
€100.7 
€126.7 
€801.6 

71.6% 
12.6% 
15.8% 
100.0% 

Operating expenses. As a  percentage of total revenues, Ryanair‘s operating expenses decreased from 
86.5% in the 2011 fiscal year to 84.5% in the 2012 fiscal year, as total revenues increased by 21.0%, faster than 
the  18.0%  increase  in  operating  expenses.  In  absolute  terms,  total  operating  expenses  increased  18.0%,  from 
€3,141.3 million in the 2011 fiscal year to €3,707.0 million in the 2012 fiscal year, principally as a result of a 
29.9% increase in fuel costs from €1,227.0 million in the 2011 fiscal year to €1,593.6 million in the 2012 fiscal 
year. Staff costs, depreciation and amortization, maintenance expenses, aircraft rental expenses, route charges, 
airport handling charges and marketing, distribution and other costs decreased as a percentage of total revenues, 
while fuel and oil increased. Total operating expenses per ASM increased by 5.1%, with the increase reflecting, 
principally,  the  increase  in  passenger  capacity  (as  measured  in  ASMs)  during  the  2012  fiscal  year  and  the 
impact of the higher fuel costs. 

The  Company‘s  decision  to  ground  aircraft  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the  results  of  the 
Company  for  the  year  ended  March  31,  2012  and,  at  present,  is  not  anticipated  to  have  a  material  impact  on 
future  operations.  The  Company  anticipates  that  any  revenues  which  could  have  been  generated  had  the 
Company  operated  the  grounded  aircraft  would  have  been  lower  than  the  operating  costs  associated  with 
operating these aircraft, due to significantly higher fuel costs, airport charges and taxes. The Company does not 
anticipate that any material staff costs will be incurred during future periods of the grounding of aircraft, as the 
relevant staff can be furloughed under the terms of their contracts without compensation and the maintenance 
costs  associated  with  the  grounded  aircraft  will  be  minimal.  However,  the  Company  will  still  incur  aircraft 
ownership costs comprised of depreciation and amortization costs, lease rentals costs and financing costs. 

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  amounts  in  euro  cent  of,  and  percentage  changes  in,  Ryanair‘s 
operating expenses (on a per-ASM basis) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 under 
IFRS. These data are calculated by dividing the relevant expense amount (as shown in the consolidated financial 
statements) by the number of ASMs in the relevant year as shown in the table of ―Selected Operating and Other 
Data‖ in Item 3 and rounding to the nearest euro cent; the percentage change is calculated on the basis of the 
relevant figures before rounding. 

Staff costs ...............................................................................  
Depreciation ...........................................................................  
Fuel and oil .............................................................................  
Maintenance, materials and repairs ........................................  
Aircraft rentals .......................................................................  
Route charges .........................................................................  
Airport and handling charges .................................................  
Marketing, distribution and other ...........................................  
Total operating expenses ........................................................  

84 

Fiscal Year 
Ended 
March 31, 
2012 

Fiscal Year 
Ended 
March 31, 
2011 

% Change 

0.58 
0.43 
2.24 
0.15 
0.13 
0.65 
0.78 
0.25 
5.21 

0.59 
0.44 
1.94 
0.15 
0.15 
0.65 
0.78 
0.26 
4.96 

(1.7)% 
(0.8)% 
15.7% 
(1.3)% 
(16.9)% 
(0.1)% 
0.3% 
(0.4)% 
5.1% 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Staff  costs.  Ryanair‘s  staff  costs,  which  consist  primarily  of  salaries,  wages  and  benefits,  decreased 
1.7% on a per-ASM basis, while in absolute terms, these costs increased 10.3%, from €376.1 million in the 2011 
fiscal year (which included €4.6 million in relation to volcanic ash expenses) to €415.0 million in the 2012 fiscal 
year.  The  increase  in  absolute  terms  was  primarily  attributable  to  a  10.5%  increase  in  hours  flown  and  a 
Company-wide  pay  increase  of  2%  granted  in  April  2011,  partially  offset  by  a  €2.5  million  reversal  of 
previously recognized share-based payment compensation expense for awards that did not vest.  

Depreciation and amortization. Ryanair‘s depreciation and amortization per ASM decreased by 0.8%, 
while  in  absolute  terms  these  costs  increased  11.3%  from  €277.7  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  to  €309.2 
million in the 2012 fiscal year. The increase was primarily attributable to the addition of 14 owned aircraft (net 
of disposals) to the fleet during the 2012 fiscal year. See ―—Critical Accounting Policies—Long-lived Assets‖ 
above. 

Fuel and oil. Ryanair‘s fuel and oil costs per ASM increased by 15.7%, while in absolute terms, these 
costs increased by 29.9% from €1,227.0 million in the 2011 fiscal  year to €1,593.6 million in the 2012 fiscal 
year, in each case after giving effect to the Company‘s fuel hedging activities. The 29.9% increase reflected an 
18.2% increase in average fuel prices paid, the impact of a 10.5% increase in the number of hours flown and a 
6.1%  increase  in  the  average  sector  length.  Fuel  and  oil  costs  include  the  direct  cost  of  fuel,  the  cost  of 
delivering fuel to the aircraft, and aircraft de-icing costs. The average fuel price paid by Ryanair (calculated by 
dividing total fuel costs by the number of U.S. gallons of fuel consumed) increased 18.2% from €1.76 per U.S. 
gallon in the 2011 fiscal year to €2.08 per U.S. gallon in the 2012 fiscal year, in each case after giving effect to 
the Company‘s fuel hedging activities. 

Maintenance,  materials  and  repairs.  Ryanair‘s  maintenance,  materials  and  repair  expenses,  which 
consist primarily of the cost of routine maintenance and the overhaul of spare parts, decreased 1.3% on a per-
ASM basis,  while in absolute terms these expenses increased by 10.8% from €93.9 million in the 2011 fiscal 
year to €104.0 million in the 2012 fiscal year. The increase in absolute terms during the fiscal year reflected the 
additional costs arising from increased level of activity and the opening of new bases.  

Aircraft  rentals.  Aircraft  rental  expenses  amounted  to  €90.7  million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year,  a  6.7% 
decrease  from  the  €97.2  million  reported  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  reflecting  the  lower  lease  costs  on  newer 
aircraft and the handback of 3 aircraft due to the maturity of leases. 

Route charges and airport and handling charges. Ryanair‘s route charges per ASM decreased 0.1% in 
the  2012  fiscal  year,  while  airport  and  handling  charges  per  ASM  increased  0.3%.  In  absolute  terms,  route 
charges increased 12.2%, from €410.6 million in the 2011 fiscal year to €460.5 million in the 2012 fiscal year, 
primarily  as  a  result  of  the  5.8%  increase  in  sectors  flown.  In  absolute  terms,  airport  and  handling  charges 
increased  12.6%,  from  €491.8  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  to  €554.0  million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year, 
reflecting the overall growth in passenger volumes and higher charges at Dublin and Stansted airports, partially 
offset by lower average costs at Ryanair‘s newer airports and bases. 

Marketing,  distribution  and  other  expenses.  Ryanair‘s  marketing,  distribution  and  other  operating 
expenses,  including  those  applicable  to  the  generation  of  ancillary  revenues,  decreased  4.0%  on  a  per-ASM 
basis  in  the  2012  fiscal  year,  while  in  absolute  terms,  these  costs  increased  7.8%,  from  €167.0  million  in  the 
2011  fiscal  year  to  €180.0  million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year,  with  the  overall  increase  primarily  reflecting  the 
higher level of activity and increased onboard product costs reflecting the higher level of sales. 

Operating profit. As a result of the factors outlined above, operating profit increased 24.6% on a per-
ASM basis in the 2012 fiscal year, and also increased in absolute terms, from €488.2 million in the 2011 fiscal 
year  to  €683.2  million  in  the  2012  fiscal  year.  See  ―Item  3.  Key  Information—Risk  Factors—Ryanair  Has 
Decided  to  Seasonally  Ground  Aircraft.  The  Company‘s  decision  to  ground  aircraft  did  not  have  a  material 
impact on the results of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2012 and, at present, is not anticipated to 
have a material impact on future operations. The Company anticipates that any revenues which could have been 
generated  had  the  Company  operated  the  grounded  aircraft,  would  have  been  lower  than  the  operating  costs 
associated  with  operating  these  aircraft,  due  to  significantly  higher  fuel  costs,  airport  charges  and  taxes.  The 
Company does not anticipate that any material staff costs will be incurred during future periods of the grounding 
of aircraft, as the relevant staff can be furloughed under the terms of their contract without compensation and the 
maintenance costs associated with the grounded aircraft will be minimal. However, the Company will still incur 

85 

 
 
 
aircraft  ownership  costs  comprised  of  depreciation  and  amortization  costs,  lease  rentals  costs  and  financing 
costs. 

Finance  income.  Ryanair‘s  interest  and  similar  income  increased  62.5%,  from  €27.2  million  in  the 

2011 fiscal year to €44.3 million in the 2012 fiscal year reflecting the improved yield on term deposits. 

Finance  expense.  Ryanair‘s  interest  and  similar  charges  increased  16.3%,  from  €93.9  million  in  the 
2011 fiscal year to €109.2 million in the 2012 fiscal year, primarily due to higher interest rates in the 2012 fiscal 
year compared to the 2011 fiscal year. These costs are expected to increase as Ryanair further expands its fleet. 

Foreign exchange gains/losses. Ryanair recorded foreign exchange  gains of €4.3  million in the 2012 
fiscal year, as compared with foreign exchange losses of €0.6 million in the 2011 fiscal year, with the different 
result being primarily due to the weakening of the euro against the U.K. pound sterling during the 2012 fiscal 
year. 

Taxation. The effective tax rate for the 2012 fiscal year was 11.5%, as compared to an effective tax rate 
of  11.0%  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  The  effective  tax  rate  reflects  the  statutory  rate  of  Irish  corporation  tax  of 
12.5%. Ryanair recorded an income tax provision of €72.6 million in the 2012 fiscal year, compared with a tax 
provision of €46.3 million in the 2011 fiscal year, with the increase primarily reflecting higher pre-tax profits. 
The determination regarding the recoverability of the deferred tax asset was based on future income forecasts, 
which demonstrated that it was more likely than not that future profits would be available in order to utilize the 
deferred  tax  asset.  A  deferred  tax  asset‘s  recoverability  is  not  dependent  on  material  improvements  over 
historical  levels  of  pre-tax  income,  material  changes  in  the  present  relationship  between  income  reported  for 
financial and tax purposes, or material asset sales or other non-routine transactions. 

FISCAL YEAR 2011 COMPARED WITH FISCAL YEAR 2010 

Profit after taxation. Ryanair recorded a profit on ordinary activities after taxation of €374.6 million in 
the  2011  fiscal  year,  as  compared  with  a  profit  of  €305.3  million  in  the  2010  fiscal  year.  This  profit  was 
primarily  attributable  to  an  increase  in  revenues  driven  by  a  12.3%  increase  in  average  fares  and  a  20.8% 
increase in ancillary revenues, partially offset by a 37.3% increase in fuel and oil costs from €893.9 million to 
€1,227.0 million. 

Scheduled revenues. Ryanair‘s scheduled passenger revenues increased 21.6%, from  €2,324.5 million 
in the 2010 fiscal year, to €2,827.9 million in the 2011 fiscal year, primarily reflecting an increase of 12.3% in 
average fares. The number of passengers booked increased 8.4%, from 66.5 million to 72.1 million, reflecting 
increased scheduled passenger volumes on existing passenger routes and the successful launch of new bases at  
Barcelona (El Prat), Gran Canaria, Kaunas, Lanzarote, Malta, Seville, Tenerife and Valencia in the 2011 fiscal 
year. There was a one-percentage-point increase in booked passenger load factors from 82% in the 2010 fiscal 
year to 83% in the 2011 fiscal year. 

Passenger capacity (as measured in ASMs) during the 2011 fiscal year increased by 18.5% due to the 
addition of 40 Boeing 737-800 aircraft (net of disposals), as well as a 7.8% increase in sectors flown and a 9.9% 
increase  in  the  average  length  of  passenger  haul.  Scheduled  passenger  revenues  accounted  for  77.9%  of 
Ryanair‘s total revenues for the 2011 fiscal year, compared with 77.8% of total revenues in the 2010 fiscal year. 

Ancillary revenues. Ryanair‘s ancillary revenues, which comprise revenues from non-flight scheduled 
operations, in-flight sales and Internet-related services, increased 20.8%, from €663.6 million in the 2010 fiscal 
year  to  €801.6  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  while  ancillary  revenues  per  booked  passenger  increased  to 
€11.12  from  €9.98.  Revenues  from  non-flight  scheduled  operations,  including  revenues  from  excess  baggage 
charges, debit and credit card transactions, sales of rail and bus tickets, accommodations, travel insurance and 
car  rental  increased  16.3%  to  €574.2  million  from  €493.5 million  in  the  2010  fiscal  year.  Revenues  from  in-
flight  sales  increased  16.4%,  to  €100.7  million  from  €86.5  million  in  the  2010  fiscal  year.  Revenues  from 
Internet-related  services,  primarily  commissions  received  from  products  sold  on  Ryanair.com  or  linked 
websites, increased 51.5%, from €83.6 million in the 2010 fiscal year to €126.7 million in the 2011 fiscal year. 
The  rate  of  increase  in  revenues  from  all  ancillary  revenue  categories  exceeded  the  increase  in  overall 
passengers booked. 

86 

 
 
The  following  table  sets  forth  the  components  of  ancillary  revenues  earned  by  Ryanair  and  each 

component expressed as a percentage of total ancillary revenues for each of the periods indicated: 

Fiscal Year ended March 31, 

2011 

2010 
(in millions of euro, except percentage data) 

Non-flight Scheduled ..................  
In-flight Sales ..............................  
Internet-related ............................  
Total ............................................  

€574.2 
€100.7 
€126.7 
€801.6 

71.6% 
12.6% 
15.8% 
100.0% 

€493.5 
€86.5 
€83.6 
€663.6 

74.4% 
13.0% 
12.6% 
100.0% 

Operating  expenses.  As  a  percentage  of  total  revenues,  Ryanair‘s  operating  expenses  remained 
unchanged at 86.5% in the 2011 fiscal year as compared to the 2010 fiscal year, as the impact of the increase in 
total revenues was offset by a corresponding increase in operating expenses. In absolute terms, total operating 
expenses increased 21.5%, from €2,586.0 million in the 2010 fiscal year to €3,141.30 million in the 2011 fiscal 
year,  principally  as  a  result  of  a  37.3%  increase  in  fuel  costs  from  €893.9  million  in  the  2010  fiscal  year  to 
€1,227.0  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  Staff  costs,  depreciation  and  amortization  maintenance  expenses, 
aircraft  rental  expenses,  route  charges,  airport  handling  charges  and  marketing,  distribution  and  other  costs 
decreased  as  a  percentage  of  total  revenues,  while  fuel  and  oil  increased.  Total  operating  expenses  per  ASM 
increased by 2.5%, with the increase reflecting, principally the increase in passenger capacity (as measured in 
ASMs) during the 2011 fiscal year and the impact of the higher fuel costs. 

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  amounts  in  euro  cent  of,  and  percentage  changes  in,  Ryanair‘s 
operating expenses (on a per-ASM basis) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010 under 
IFRS. These data are calculated by dividing the relevant expense amount (as shown in the consolidated financial 
statements) by the number of ASMs in the relevant year as shown in the table of ―Selected Operating and Other 
Data‖ in Item 3 and rounding to the nearest euro cent; the percentage change is calculated on the basis of the 
relevant figures before rounding. 

Fiscal Year 
Ended 
March 31, 
2011 

Fiscal Year 
Ended 
March 31, 
2010 

Staff costs ...............................................................................  
Depreciation ...........................................................................  
Fuel and oil .............................................................................  
Maintenance, materials and repairs ........................................  
Aircraft rentals .......................................................................  
Route charges .........................................................................  
Airport and handling charges .................................................  
Marketing, distribution and other ...........................................  
Total operating expenses ........................................................  

0.59 
0.44 
1.94 
0.15 
0.15 
0.65 
0.78 
0.26 
4.96 

0.63 
0.44 
1.67 
0.16 
0.18 
0.63 
0.86 
0.27 
4.84 

% Change 

(5.1)% 
(0.4)% 
16.0% 
(7.3)% 
(14.8)% 
2.9% 
(9.7)% 
(2.4)% 
2.5% 

Staff  costs.  Ryanair‘s  staff  costs,  which  consist  primarily  of  salaries,  wages  and  benefits,  decreased 
5.1% on a per-ASM basis, while in absolute terms, these costs increased 12.3%, from €335.0 million in the 2010 
fiscal year to €376.1 million in the 2011 fiscal year. The increase in absolute terms was primarily attributable to 
a 14.7% increase in average headcount to 8,069, which was partially offset by the impact of a Company-wide 
pay freeze then in effect, the higher proportion of contract crew operating during the year, and the rise, during 
the  year,  in  the  proportion  of  cabin  crew  members  who  earn  below-average  salaries.  Employee  numbers  rose 
due to the growth of the business. 

Depreciation and amortization. Ryanair‘s depreciation and amortization per ASM decreased by 0.4%, 
while  in  absolute  terms  these  costs  increased  18.0%  from  €235.4  million  in  the  2010  fiscal  year,  to  €277.7 
million in the 2011 fiscal year. The increase was primarily attributable to the addition of 44 owned aircraft (net 

87 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
of disposals) to the fleet during the 2011 fiscal year. See ―—Critical Accounting Policies—Long-lived Assets‖ 
above. 

Fuel and oil. Ryanair‘s fuel and oil costs per ASM increased by 16.0%, while in absolute terms, these 
costs increased by 37.3% from €893.9 million in the 2010 fiscal year to €1,227.0 million in the 2011 fiscal year, 
in each case after giving effect to the Company‘s fuel hedging activities. The 37.3% increase reflected a 15.8% 
increase in average fuel prices paid, the impact of a 17.4% increase in the number of hours flown and a 9.9% 
increase in the average sector length. Fuel and oil costs include the direct cost of fuel, the cost of delivering fuel 
to the aircraft, and aircraft de-icing costs.  The average fuel price paid by Ryanair (calculated by dividing total 
fuel costs by the number of U.S. gallons of fuel consumed) increased 15.8% from €1.52 per U.S. gallon in the 
2010  fiscal  year  to  €1.76  per  U.S.  gallon  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  in  each  case  after  giving  effect  to  the 
Company‘s fuel hedging activities. 

Maintenance,  materials  and  repairs.  Ryanair‘s  maintenance,  materials  and  repair  expenses,  which 
consist primarily of the cost of routine maintenance and the overhaul of spare parts, decreased 7.3% on a per-
ASM basis, while in absolute terms these expenses increased by 9.2% from €86.0 million in the 2010 fiscal year 
to  €93.9  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year.  The  increase  in  absolute  terms  during  the  fiscal  year  reflected  the 
additional  costs  arising  from  increased  line  maintenance  activity  at  new  bases  and  costs  incurred  to  satisfy 
provisions of lease contracts dealing with the condition of aircraft due to be returned in 2010 and 2011.  

Aircraft  rentals.  Aircraft  rental  expenses  amounted  to  €97.2  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  a  1.8% 
increase  from the €95.5 million reported in the 2010 fiscal  year, reflecting the  net impact of the return of ten 
aircraft under operating lease and the addition of six aircraft leased during the year. 

Route charges and airport and handling charges. Ryanair‘s route charges per ASM increased 2.9% in 
the  2011  fiscal  year,  while  airport  and  handling  charges  per  ASM  decreased  9.7%.  In  absolute  terms,  route 
charges increased 22.1%, from €336.3 million in the 2010 fiscal year to €410.6 million in the 2011 fiscal year, 
primarily  as  a  result  of  the  8.3%  increase  in  sectors  flown.  In  absolute  terms,  airport  and  handling  charges 
increased 7.1%, from €459.1 million in the 2010 fiscal year, to €491.8 million in the 2011 fiscal year, reflecting 
the overall growth in passenger volumes, partially offset by lower average costs at Ryanair‘s newer airports and 
bases. 

Marketing,  distribution  and  other  expenses.  Ryanair‘s  marketing,  distribution  and  other  operating 
expenses,  including  those  applicable  to  the  generation  of  ancillary  revenues,  decreased  2.4%  on  a  per-ASM 
basis in the 2011 fiscal year, while in absolute terms, these costs increased 15.3%, from €144.8 million in the 
2010  fiscal  year  to  €167.0  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year,  with  the  overall  increase  primarily  reflecting  the 
higher level of activity and increase in airport commissions on revenues generated. 

Icelandic  ash  related  costs.  The  closure  of  European  airspace  in  April  and  May  2010,  due  to  the 
Icelandic volcanic ash disruption, resulted in the cancellation of 9,490 Ryanair flights. The impact on Ryanair‘s 
profit  before  tax  totaled  €29.7  million  consisting  of  €28.0  million  in  operating  expenses  (including  passenger 
compensation of €12.4 million pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 (―EU261‖) and €1.7 million of other 
income/expense attributable to the period of flight disruption. The following table sets forth the components of 
Icelandic volcanic ash related costs associated with each category of operating expense: 

Staff costs ...............................................................................  
Depreciation ...........................................................................  
Fuel and oil .............................................................................  
Maintenance, materials and repairs ........................................  
Aircraft rentals .......................................................................  
Route charges .........................................................................  
Airport and handling charges .................................................  
Marketing,  distribution  and  other  (includes  €12.4  million 
passenger compensation costs pursuant to EU261) .............  
Total operating expenses ........................................................  

88 

Fiscal Year 
Ended 
March 31, 2011 
(in millions of euro) 

€4.6 
€4.7 
€0.3 
- 
€2.0 
€0.1 
€0.9 

€15.4 
€28.0 

 
 
 
 
Operating profit.  As a  result  of the  factors outlined above, operating profit increased 2.5% on a  per-
ASM basis in the 2011 fiscal year, and also increased in absolute terms, from €402.1 million in the 2010 fiscal 
year to €488.2 million in the 2011 fiscal year.  

Finance  income.  Ryanair‘s  interest  and  similar  income  increased  15.8%,  from  €23.5  million  in  the 
2010  fiscal  year  to  €27.2  million  in  the  2011  fiscal  year  reflecting  the  impact  of  higher  market  interest  rates 
which  was  partially  offset  by  the  Company‘s  policy  of  continuing  to  place  its  deposits  with  highly  rated  and 
guaranteed financial institutions which typically provide a lower yield. 

Finance  expense.  Ryanair‘s  interest  and  similar  charges  increased  30.2%,  from  €72.1  million  in  the 
2010 fiscal year to €93.9 million in the 2011 fiscal year, primarily due to the drawdown of debt related to the 
acquisition  of  additional  Boeing  737-800  aircraft.  These  costs  are  expected  to  increase  as  Ryanair  further 
expands its fleet. 

Foreign exchange losses/gains. Ryanair recorded foreign exchange losses of €0.6 million in the 2011 
fiscal year, as compared with foreign exchange losses of €1.0 million in the 2010 fiscal year, with the different 
result being primarily due to the strengthening of the U.K. pound sterling and U.S. dollar against the euro during 
the 2011 fiscal year. 

Taxation. The effective tax rate for the 2011 fiscal year was 11.0%, as compared to an effective tax rate 
of  10.5%  in  the  2010  fiscal  year.  The  effective  tax  rate  reflects  the  statutory  rate  of  Irish  corporation  tax  of 
12.5%. Ryanair recorded an income tax provision of €46.3 million in the 2011 fiscal year, compared with a tax 
provision of €35.7 million in the 2010 fiscal year, with the increase primarily reflecting higher pre-tax profits. 
The determination regarding the recoverability of the deferred tax asset was  based on future income forecasts, 
which demonstrated that it was more likely than not that future profits would be available in order to utilize the 
deferred  tax  asset.  A  deferred  tax  asset‘s  recoverability  is  not  dependent  on  material  improvements  over 
historical  levels  of  pre-tax  income,  material  changes  in  the  present  relationship  between  income  reported  for 
financial and tax purposes, or material asset sales or other non-routine transactions. 

SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS 

The  Company‘s  results  of  operations  have  varied  significantly  from  quarter  to  quarter,  and 
management  expects  these  variations  to  continue.  Among  the  factors  causing  these  variations  are  the  airline 
industry‘s  sensitivity  to  general  economic  conditions  and  the  seasonal  nature  of  air  travel.  Ryanair  typically 
records higher revenues and income in the first half of each fiscal year ended March 31 than the second half of 
such year.  

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 

Please  see  Note  1  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  included  in  Item  18  for  information  on 

recently issued accounting standards that are material to the Company. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Liquidity.  The  Company  finances  its  working  capital  requirements  through  a  combination  of  cash 
generated from operations and bank loans for the  acquisition of aircraft.  See ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk 
Factors—Risks Related to the Company—The Company Will Incur Significant Costs Acquiring New Aircraft‖ 
for more information about risks relating to liquidity and capital resources. The Company had cash and liquid 
resources at March 31, 2012 and 2011 of €3,515.6 million and €2,940.6 million, respectively. The increase at 
March 31, 2012 primarily reflects cash generated from operating activities of €1,020.3 million offset in part by 
the cash used to fund the purchase of property, plant, and equipment – primarily 14 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft 
and the purchase of 36.5 million Ordinary Shares via a share buy-back costing €124.6 million.  During the 2012 
fiscal year, the Company funded its €317.6 million in purchases of property, plant, and equipment out of €292.3 
million in loans. Cash and liquid resources included €35.1 million and €42.9 million in ―restricted cash‖ held on 
deposit as collateral for certain derivative financial instruments entered into by the Company with respect to its 
aircraft  financing  obligations  and  other  banking  arrangements  at  March  31,  2012  and  2011,  respectively.  See 
―Item 8. Financial Information Other Financial Information Legal Proceedings.‖ 

89 

 
 
 
The Company‘s net cash inflows from operating activities in the 2012 and 2011 fiscal years amounted 
to €1,020.3 million and €786.3  million, respectively.  During the last two  fiscal  years, Ryanair‘s primary cash 
requirements  have  been  for  operating  expenses,  additional  aircraft,  including  advance  payments  in  respect  of 
new  Boeing  737-800s  and  related  flight  equipment,  payments  on  related  indebtedness  and  payments  of 
corporation  tax,  as  well  as  share  buy-backs  of  €124.6  million  and  the  payment  of  a  €500.0  million  special 
dividend  to  shareholders.  Cash  generated  from  operations  has  been  the  principal  source  for  these  cash 
requirements, supplemented primarily by aircraft-related bank loans. 

The  Company‘s  net  cash  used  in  investing  activities  in  fiscal  years  2012  and  2011  totaled  €185.4 
million  and  €474.0  million,  respectively,  primarily  reflecting  the  Company‘s  capital  expenditures,  and 
investment of cash with maturities of greater than three months, as described in more detail below. 

The Company‘s net cash provided by financing activities totaled €238.1 million in the 2011 fiscal year, 
largely reflecting the receipt of proceeds from long-term borrowings of €991.4 million in fiscal year 2011, offset 
in part by repayments of long-term borrowings of €280.7 million. There was a net cash outflow from financing 
activities  of  €154.9  million  in  fiscal  year  2012.    This  was  due  to  the  receipt  of  proceeds  from  long  term 
borrowings of €292.3 million being more than offset by repayments of long-term borrowings of €329.7 million 
and the expenditure of €124.6 million under the share buy-back program. 

Capital Expenditures. The Company‘s net cash outflows for  capital expenditures in fiscal years 2012 
and 2011 were €290.4 million and €897.2 million, respectively. Ryanair has funded a significant portion of its 
acquisition of new Boeing 737-800 aircraft and related equipment through borrowings under facilities provided 
by  international  financial  institutions  on  the  basis  of  guarantees  issued  by  Ex-Im  Bank.  At  March  31,  2012, 
Ryanair had a fleet of 294 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the majority of which (199 aircraft) were funded by Ex-Im 
Bank-guaranteed  financing.  Other  sources  of  on-balance-sheet  aircraft  financing  utilized  by  Ryanair  are 
Japanese Operating Leases with Call Options (―JOLCOs‖), which are treated as finance leases (30 of the aircraft 
in the fleet as of March 31, 2012) and commercial debt financing (6 of  the aircraft in the fleet as of March 31, 
2012). Of Ryanair‘s total fleet of 294 aircraft there were 59 Boeing 737-800 aircraft in Ryanair‘s fleet at March 
31,  2012  which  were  financed  through  operating  lease  arrangements.  Of  the  25  new  Boeing  737-800  aircraft 
which Ryanair took delivery of between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012, 11 were financed through sale-and-
leaseback financings and the remainder through Ex-Im Bank guaranteed-financing. Ryanair has generally been 
able  to  generate  sufficient  funds  from  operations  to  meet  its  non-aircraft  acquisition-related  working  capital 
requirements.  Management  believes  that  the  working  capital  available  to  the  Company  is  sufficient  for  its 
present  requirements  and  will  be  sufficient  to  meet  its  anticipated  requirements  for  capital  expenditures  and 
other cash requirements for the 2013 fiscal year. 

The  table  on  the  following  page  summarizes  the  delivery  schedule  for  the  Boeing  737-800  aircraft 
Ryanair has purchased, or is required to purchase, under its past and current contracts with Boeing, including 
through the exercise of purchase options. These Boeing 737-800s are identical in all significant respects, having 
189 seats and the same cockpit and engine configuration.  The table also provides details of the ―Basic Price‖ 
(equivalent to a standard list price for an aircraft of this type) for each of these aircraft. The Basic Price for each 
of the firm-order aircraft to be delivered pursuant to the 2005 Boeing contract, as well as for each of the firm-
order  aircraft  that  remained  to  be  delivered  and  purchase  options  outstanding  under  the  prior  contracts  at 
January  1,  2005,  will  be  increased  by  (a)  an  estimated  $900,000  per  aircraft  for  certain  ―buyer  furnished‖ 
equipment the Company has asked Boeing to purchase and install on each of the aircraft, and (b) an ―Escalation 
Factor‖ designed to increase the Basic Price of any individual aircraft to reflect increases in the published U.S. 
Employment Cost and Producer Price indices from the time the Basic Price is set through the time six months 
prior  to  the  delivery  of  such  aircraft.  The  Basic  Price  is  also  subject  to  decrease  to  take  into  account  certain 
concessions granted to the Company by Boeing pursuant to the terms of the contracts. These concessions take 
the form of credit memoranda, which the Company may apply towards the purchase of goods and services from 
Boeing  or  towards  certain  payments  in  respect  of  the  purchase  of  the  aircraft.  These  credit  memoranda  are 
generally  incorporated  into  Boeing‘s  final  aircraft  invoices  and  thus  reduce  the  amount  paid  by  Ryanair  for 
aircraft. Boeing and CFM International S.A. (the manufacturer of the CFM56-7B engines that power the Boeing 
737-800 aircraft) have also agreed to give the Company certain allowances for promotional and other activities, 
as  well  as  provide  other  goods  and  services  to  the  Company  on  concessionary  terms.  As  a  result  of  credit 
memoranda  received from Boeing, the effective  price  of each  aircraft purchased in the past has been, and the 
effective prices of aircraft to  be delivered in the  future are expected to be, significantly  below the  unadjusted 
Basic Prices in the table on the following page. 

90 

 
 
Aircraft Delivery Schedule 

Deliveries and Scheduled 
Deliveries in the Fiscal Year 
ending March 31, 

1998 
Boeing 
Contract 
(Incl. 
Options) 

2002 
Boeing 
Contract 
(Incl. 
Options) 

2003 
Boeing 
Contract 
(Incl. 
Options) 

2005 
Boeing 
Contract 
(Incl. 
Options) 

737-800 
Disposals 
/Lease 
Handbacks 

Total No. 
of Boeing 
737-800 
Aircraft 

1999...........................  
2000...........................  
2001...........................  
2002...........................  
2003...........................  
2004...........................  
2005...........................  
2006...........................  
2007...........................  
2008...........................  
2009...........................  
2010...........................  
2011...........................  
2012...........................  
Total as of  

March 31, 2012 .....  

2013...........................  
2014...........................  
Expected Total as of  
March 31, 2014 ........  

1 
4 
10 
5 
8 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

28 

— 
— 

28 

— 
— 
— 
— 
5 
18 
13 
16 
27 
21 
3 
— 
— 
— 

103 

— 
— 

103 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
14 
9 
1 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

24 

— 
— 

24 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
2 
15 
32 
54 
50 
25 

178 

15 
— 

193 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
(6) 
(17)(a) 
(3) 
(10) 
(3) 

(39) 

(4) 
(4) 

(47)(b) 

1 
4 
10 
5 
13 
18 
27 
25 
30 
30 
18 
51 
40 
22 

294 

11 
(4) 

301 

Basic Price per aircraft 

(unadjusted) (in millions)  

  $47 

  $51 

  $51 

  $51 

(a)  This includes the aircraft that was involved in the bird strike incident at Rome (Ciampino) airport in November 2008, 
which has not been sold and remains the property of Ryanair. The Company will not return this aircraft to service. 
(b)  As  of  June  30,  2012  the  Company  had  sold  and  re-delivered  a  cumulative  total  39  Boeing  737-800  aircraft.  The 
Company expects to dispose of 8 further aircraft before March 2014 (which, when added to the 38 completed disposals, 
and the aircraft disabled by the bird strike and thus listed as a disposal, brings the total number of disposals to 47). To 
this  end,  the  Company  may  choose  to  dispose  of  aircraft  through  sale  and/or  non-renewal  of  a  number  of  operating 
leases due to expire between fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2013. 

 As  can  be  seen  from  the  delivery  schedule  table  above,  delivery  of  the  Boeing  737-800s  already 
ordered will enable the Company to increase the size of its summer schedule fleet by 11 additional aircraft (net 
of planned disposals) in fiscal year 2013 thereby increasing the size of the fleet, which is expected to total 305 at 
the end of that period. 

Capital Resources. Ryanair‘s long-term debt (including current maturities) totaled €3,625.2 million at 
March  31,  2012  and  €3,649.4  million  at  March  31,  2011,  with  the  change  being  primarily  attributable  to 
financing  of  new  aircraft  and  repayment  of  existing  debt  facilities.  Please  see  the  table  ―Obligations  Due  by 
Period‖  below  for  more  information  on  Ryanair‘s  long-term  debt  (including  current  maturities)  and  finance 
leases as of March 31, 2012. See also Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 18 for 
further information on the maturity profile of the interest rate structure and other information on, the Company‘s 
borrowings. 

The Company‘s purchase of the 25 Boeing 737-800 aircraft delivered in the 2012 fiscal year has been 
funded by a combination of financing solutions, including bank loans supported by Ex-Im Bank guarantees (14 
aircraft)  and  sale-and-leaseback  financings  (11  aircraft).  At  March  31,  2012,  the  majority  of  the  aircraft  in 
Ryanair‘s  fleet  had  been  financed  through  loan  facilities  with  various  financial  institutions  active  in  the 
structured export finance  sector and supported by a loan  guarantee from Ex-Im Bank. Each of these  facilities 
takes  essentially  the  same  form  and  is  based  on  the  documentation  developed  by  Ryanair  and  Ex-Im  Bank, 
which  follows  standard  market  forms  for  this  type  of  financing.  In  November  2010,  Ryanair  financed  seven 
aircraft through a U.S. dollar-denominated Ex-Im Bank Capital Markets Product (―Eximbond‖). The Eximbond 

91 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
has  essentially  the  same  characteristics  as  all  previous  Ex-Im  Bank  guaranteed  financings  with  no  additional 
obligations on Ryanair. On the basis of an Ex-Im Bank guarantee with regard to the financing of up  to 85% of 
the eligible U.S. and foreign content represented in the net purchase price of the relevant aircraft, the financial 
institution  investor  enters  into  a  commitment  letter  with  the  Company  to  provide  financing  for  a  specified 
number of aircraft benefiting from such guarantee; loans are then drawn down as the aircraft are delivered and 
payments to Boeing become due. Each of the loans under the facilities are on substantially similar terms, having 
a  maturity  of  12  years  from  the  drawdown  date  and  being  secured  by  a  first  priority  mortgage  in  favor  of  a 
security  trustee  on  behalf  of  Ex-Im  Bank.  As  of  July  20,  2012,  the  Company  has  a  commitment  for  all  11 
aircraft due for delivery on September, October and November 2012. 

Through  the  use  of  interest  rate  swaps  or  cross  currency  interest  rate  swaps,  Ryanair  has  effectively 
converted  a  portion  of  its  floating-rate  debt  under  its  financing  facilities  into  fixed-rate  debt.  Approximately 
36%  of  the  loans  for  the  aircraft  acquired  under  the  above  facilities  are  not  covered  by  such  swaps  and  have 
therefore remained at floating rates linked to EURIBOR, with the interest rate exposure from these loans largely 
hedged by placing a similar amount of cash on deposit at floating interest rates. The net result is that Ryanair has 
effectively swapped or drawn down fixed-rate euro-denominated debt with maturities between 7 and 12 years in 
respect  of  approximately  64%  of  its  outstanding  debt  financing  at  March  31,  2012  and  of  this  total 
approximately 44% of this debt has been partially swapped, with the relevant swaps covering the first 7 years of 
the 12-year amortizing period. 

The  table  below  illustrates  the  effect  of  swap  transactions  (each  of  which  is  with  an  established 
international  financial counterparty) on the  profile of Ryanair‘s total outstanding debt at March 31, 2012. See 
―Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Interest Rate Exposure and Hedging‖ 
for additional details on the Company‘s hedging transactions. 

At March 31, 2012 

EUR 
Fixed 

EUR 
Floating 

(in millions of euro) 

Borrowing profile before swap transactions .....................................  
Interest rate swaps – Debt swapped from floating to fixed ...............  
Borrowing profile after swap transactions ........................................  

1,019.9  
1,290.6  
2,310.5  

2,605.3  
(1,290.6)  
 1,314.7 

The  weighted-average  interest  rate  on  the  cumulative  borrowings  under  these  facilities  of  €3,625.2 
million  at  March  31,  2012  was  2.9%.  Ryanair‘s  ability  to  obtain  additional  loans  pursuant  to  each  of  the 
facilities  to  finance  the  price  of  future  Boeing  737-800  aircraft  purchases  is  subject  to  the  issuance  of  further 
bank commitments and the satisfaction of various contractual conditions. These conditions include, among other 
things, the execution of satisfactory documentation, the requirement that Ryanair perform all of its obligations 
under  the  Boeing  agreements  and  provide  satisfactory  security  interests  in  the  aircraft  (and  related  assets)  in 
favor of the lenders and Ex-Im Bank, and that Ryanair not suffer a material adverse change in its conditions or 
prospects (financial or otherwise). 

Ex-Im Bank‘s policy on facilities of this type is to issue a binding final commitment approximately six 
months  prior  to  delivery  of  each  aircraft  being  financed.  Ex-Im  Bank  has  already  issued  final  binding 
commitments and related guarantees with respect to the 199 (net of 26 aircraft disposals) Ex-Im Bank-financed 
Boeing 737-800 aircraft delivered between 2001 and March 31, 2012. Ex-Im Bank‘s final binding commitment 
is also subject to certain conditions set forth in the documentation for facilities and the Ex-Im Bank guarantee. 
These  conditions  include,  among  other  things,  the  execution  of  satisfactory  documentation,  the  creation  and 
maintenance of the lease and related arrangements described below, that Ryanair provide satisfactory security 
interests in the aircraft (and related assets) in favor of Ex-Im Bank and the lenders, and that the subject aircraft 
be  registered  in  Ireland,  be  covered  by  adequate  insurance  and  maintained  in  a  manner  acceptable  to  Ex-Im 
Bank.  Ryanair expects that any future commitments or  guarantees issued by Ex-Im Bank  will contain  similar 
conditions.  The  terms  of  the  facilities  and  the  Ex-Im  Bank  guarantee  require  that  Ryanair  pay  certain  fees  in 
connection with such financings. In particular, these fees include arrangement fees paid to the facility arranger, 
and a commitment fee based on the unutilized and non-cancelled portion of the guarantee commencing 60 days 
from  the  date  of  issuance  of  the  guarantee  and  payable  semi-annually  in  arrears.  An  exposure  fee  for  the 
issuance  of  the  guarantee  on  the  date  of  delivery  is  also  payable  to  Ex-Im  Bank  (based  on  the  amount  of  the 
guarantee). Ryanair‘s payment of the applicable exposure fee to Ex-Im Bank (based on the amount of the loan 

92 

 
 
 
 
 
 
provided) is eligible for financing under the facilities. Ryanair anticipates that similar fees will be incurred as 
additional aircraft are delivered and financed.  

As part of its Ex-Im Bank guarantee-based financing of the Boeing 737-800s, Ryanair has entered into 
certain lease agreements and related arrangements. Pursuant to these arrangements, legal title to the 199 aircraft 
delivered and remaining in the fleet as of March 31, 2012 rests with a number of United States special purpose 
vehicles (the ―SPVs‖) in which Ryanair has no equity or other interest. The SPVs are the borrowers of record 
under  the  loans  made  or  to  be  made  under  the  facilities,  with  all  of  their  obligations  under  the  loans  being 
guaranteed by Ryanair Holdings. 

The shares of the SPVs (which are owned by an unrelated charitable association) are in turn pledged to 
a  security  trustee  in  favor  of  Ex-Im  Bank  and  the  lenders.  Ryanair  operates  each  of  the  aircraft  pursuant  to  a 
finance lease it has entered into with the SPVs, the terms of which mirror those of the relevant loans under the 
facilities.  Ryanair  has  the  right  to  purchase  the  aircraft  upon  termination  of  the  lease  for  a  nominal  amount. 
Pursuant  to  this  arrangement,  Ryanair  is  considered  to  own  the  aircraft  for  accounting  purposes  under  IFRS. 
Ryanair does not use special purpose entities for off-balance sheet financing or any other purpose which results 
in assets or liabilities not being reflected in Ryanair‘s consolidated financial statements. 

As of July 20, 2012, Ryanair had mandated a lender to provide financing for up to seven of its firm-
order Boeing 737-800 aircraft under an Ex-Im Bank financing structure and the remaining four through the use 
of  operating  leases,  including  via  sale-and-leaseback  transactions.  The  future  Ex-Im  Bank  guarantee-based 
financing  will  be  substantially  based  on  terms  and  conditions  similar  to  those  described  above.  However,  no 
assurance can be given that such financing will be available to Ryanair, or that the terms of any such financing 
will  be  as  advantageous  to  the  Company  as  those  available  at  the  time  of  the  facilities.  Any  inability  of  the 
Company to obtain financing for the new aircraft on advantageous terms could have a material adverse effect on 
its business, results of operations and financial condition. 

The  Company  financed  72  of  the  Boeing  737-800  aircraft  delivered  between  December  2003  and 
March  2012  under  seven-year,  sale-and-leaseback  arrangements  with  a  number  of  international  leasing 
companies,  pursuant  to  which  each  lessor  purchased  an  aircraft  and  leased  it  to  Ryanair  under  an  operating 
lease.  Between  October  2010  and  March  2012,  13  operating  lease  aircraft  were  returned  to  the  lessor  at  the 
agreed maturity date of the lease. At March 31, 2012, Ryanair had 59 operating lease aircraft in the fleet. As a 
result, Ryanair operates, but does not own, these aircraft, which were leased to provide flexibility for the aircraft 
delivery  program.  Ryanair  has  no  right  or  obligation  to  acquire  these  aircraft  at  the  end  of  the  relevant  lease 
terms. Two of these leases are denominated in euro and require Ryanair to make variable rental payments that 
are linked to EURIBOR. Through the use of interest rate swaps, Ryanair has effectively converted the floating-
rate rental payments due pursuant to these leases into fixed-rate rental payments. Thirty leases are denominated 
in  euro  and  require  Ryanair  to  make  fixed  rental  payments  over  the  term  of  the  lease.  The  remaining  27 
operating leases are U.S. dollar-denominated and two require Ryanair to make variable rental payments that are 
linked to U.S. dollar LIBOR, while a further 25 require Ryanair to make fixed rental payments. The Company 
has an option to extend the initial period of seven years on 36 of the 59 remaining operating lease aircraft as of 
March 31, 2012, on pre-determined terms. Four operating lease arrangements will mature during the year ended 
March 31, 2013. The Company decided not to extend any of these operating leases for a secondary lease period 
and handed aircraft back to the lessors in April 2012. In addition to the above, the Company financed 30 of the 
Boeing  737-800  aircraft  delivered  between  March  2005  and  March  2012  with  13-year  euro-denominated 
JOLCOs.  These  structures  are  accounted  for  as  finance  leases  and  are  initially  recorded  at  fair  value  in  the 
Company‘s balance sheet. Under each of these contracts, Ryanair has a call option to purchase the aircraft at a 
pre-determined price after a period of 10.5 years, which it may exercise. Six aircraft have been financed through 
euro-denominated 12-year amortizing commercial debt transactions.  

Since, under each of the Company‘s operating leases, the Company has a commitment to maintain the 
relevant aircraft, an accounting provision is made during the lease term for this obligation based on estimated 
future  costs  of  major  airframe  and  certain  engine  maintenance  checks  by  making  appropriate  charges  to  the 
income  statement  calculated  by  reference  to  the  number  of  hours  or  cycles  operated  during  the  year.  Under 
IFRS, the accounting treatment for these costs with respect to leased aircraft differs from that for aircraft owned 
by the Company, for which such costs are capitalized and amortized. 

In  2000,  Ryanair  purchased  a  Boeing  737-800  flight  simulator  from  CAE  Electronics  Limited  of 
Quebec, Canada (―CAE‖). The simulator is being used for pilot training purposes. The gross purchase price of 
the simulator and the necessary software was approximately $10 million, not taking into account certain price 
93 

 
 
concessions  provided  by  the  seller  in  the  form  of  credit  memoranda.  The  Company  financed  this  expenditure 
with  a  10-year  euro-denominated  loan  provided  by  the  Export  Development  Corporation  of  Canada  for  up  to 
85% of the net purchase price, with the remainder provided by cash flows from operations. 

In 2002, Ryanair entered into a contract to purchase three additional Boeing 737-800 flight simulators 
from  CAE.  The  first  of  these  simulators  was  delivered  in  2004  and  the  second  and  third  simulators  were 
delivered in the 2008 fiscal year. The gross price of each simulator was approximately $10.3 million, not taking 
into  account  certain  price  concessions  provided  by  the  seller  in  the  form  of  credit  memoranda.  In  September 
2006 Ryanair entered into a new contract with CAE to purchase B737NG Level B flight simulators. Two such 
simulators were delivered in the 2009 fiscal year. The gross price of each simulator is approximately $8 million, 
not  taking  into  account  certain  price  concessions  provided by  the  seller  in  the  form  of  credit  memoranda  and 
discounts. 

Contractual  Obligations.  The  table  below  sets  forth  the  contractual  obligations  and  commercial 
commitments of the Company with definitive payment terms, which will require significant cash outlays in the 
future,  as  of  March  31,  2012.  These  obligations  primarily  relate  to  Ryanair‘s  aircraft  purchase  and  related 
financing obligations, which are described in more detail above. For additional information on the Company‘s 
contractual  obligations  and  commercial  commitments,  see  Note  23  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements 
included in Item 18. 

The  amounts  listed  under  ―Finance  Lease  Obligations‖  reflect  the  Company‘s  obligations  under  its 

JOLCOs. See ―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 Liquidity and Capital Resources.‖ 

The amounts listed under ―Purchase Obligations‖ in the table reflect obligations for aircraft purchases 
and are calculated by multiplying the number of aircraft the Company is obligated to purchase under its current 
agreements with Boeing during the relevant period by the Basic Price for each aircraft pursuant to the relevant 
contract, with the dollar-denominated Basic Price being converted into euro at an exchange rate of $1.3356  = 
€1.00 (based on the European Central Bank Rate on March 31, 2012). The relevant amounts therefore exclude 
the  effect  of  the  price  concessions  granted  to  Ryanair  by  Boeing  and  CFM,  as  well  as  any  application  of  the 
Escalation  Factor.  As  a  result,  Ryanair‘s  actual  expenditures  for  aircraft  during  the  relevant  periods  will  be 
lower than the amounts listed under ―Purchase Obligations‖ in the table.  

With respect to purchase obligations under the terms of the 2005 Boeing contract, the Company  was 
required to pay Boeing 1% of the Basic Price of each of the 70 firm-order Boeing 737-800 aircraft at the time 
the  contract  was  signed  in  February  2005,  and  will  be  required  to  make  periodic  advance  payments  of  the 
purchase price for each aircraft it has agreed to purchase during the course of the two-year period preceding the 
delivery of each aircraft. As a result of these required advance payments, the Company will have paid up to 30% 
of  the  Basic  Price  of  each  aircraft  prior  to  its  delivery  (including  the  addition  of  an  estimated  ―Escalation 
Factor‖ but before deduction of any credit memoranda and other concessions); the balance of the net price is due 
at the time of delivery.  

The amounts  listed  under ―Operating  Lease  Obligations‖  reflect the  Company‘s obligations  under its 

aircraft operating lease arrangements.  

Obligations Due by Period  

Contractual Obligations 

Total 

Less than 1 
year 

1-2 years 

2-5 years 

After 5 years 

(in millions of euro) 

Long-term Debt (a) ..............................  
Finance Lease Obligations ...................  
Purchase Obligations............................  
Operating Lease Obligations  ...............  
Future interest payments (b)………..... 
Total Contractual Obligations ..............  

2,819.2 
806.0 
571.8 
605.9 
378.4 
5,181.3 

317.4 
51.0 
571.8 
117.0 
86.1 
1,143.3 

327.7 
53.4 
— 
49.5 
73.8 
504.4 

964.1 
230.0 
— 
278.5 
144.6 
1,617.2 

1,210.0 
471.6 
— 
160.9 
73.9 
1,916.4 

(a)  For  additional  information  on  Ryanair‘s  long-term  debt  obligations,  see  Note  11  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements 
included in Item 18. 
(b) In determining an appropriate methodology to estimate future interest payments we have applied either the applicable fixed rate 
or currently applicable variable rate where appropriate.  These interest rates are subject to change and may be higher or lower than 
noted in the table above. 

94 

 
 
 
 
OFF-BALANCE SHEET TRANSACTIONS 

Ryanair  uses  certain  off-balance  sheet  arrangements  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  including 
financial guarantees and operating lease commitments. Details of each of these arrangements that  have or are 
reasonably  likely  to  have  a  current  or  future  material  effect  on  the  Company‘s  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, liquidity or capital resources are discussed below.  

Operating  Lease  Commitments.  The  Company  has  entered  into  a  number  of  sale-and-leaseback 
transactions in connection with the  financing of a number of aircraft in its fleet. See ―—Liquidity and Capital 
Resources—Capital Resources‖ above for additional information on these transactions. 

Guarantees. Ryanair Holdings has provided an aggregate of €5,503.4 million in letters of guarantee to 
secure obligations of certain of its subsidiaries in respect of loans and bank advances, including those relating to 
aircraft  financing  and  related  hedging  transactions.  All  of  these  guarantees  are  eliminated  in  the  Company‘s 
consolidated balance sheet. 

TREND INFORMATION 

For  information  concerning  the  principal  trends  and  uncertainties  affecting  the  Company‘s  results  of 
operations and financial condition, see ―Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors,‖ ―—Business Overview,‖ ―—
Recent  Operating  Results,‖  ―—Results  of  Operations,‖  ―—Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources‖  and  ―Item  4. 
Information on the Company—Strategy—Responding to Current Challenges” above. 

INFLATION 

Inflation  did  not  have  a  significant  effect  on  the  Company‘s  results  of  operations  and  financial 

condition during the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2012. 

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees 

Ryanair  Holdings  was  established  in  1996  as  a  holding  company  for  Ryanair.  The  management  of 
Ryanair Holdings and Ryanair are integrated, with the two companies having the same directors and executive 
officers. 

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  concerning  the  directors  of  Ryanair  Holdings  and 

Ryanair as of June 30, 2012:  

DIRECTORS 

Name 
David Bonderman (a)(b) .................................  
Michael Horgan (d) .........................................  
Klaus Kirchberger (e) ......................................  
Charles McCreevy (c) .....................................  
Declan McKeon (c) .........................................  
Kyran McLaughlin (a)(b) ................................  
Michael O‘Leary (a)(b)(f) ...............................  
James Osborne (a)(c)(e) ..................................  
Paolo Pietrogrande (e) .....................................  

Age 
69 
75 
54 
62 
61 
68 
51 
63 
55 

Positions 
Chairman of the Board and Director  
Director  
Director 
Director  
Director  
Director  
Director and Chief Executive Officer 
Director  
Director  

 (a) Member of the Executive Committee. 
(b) Member of the Nomination Committee. 
(c) Member of the Audit Committee. 
(d) Member of the Air Safety Committee. 
(e) Member of the Remuneration Committee. 
(f)  Mr.  O‘Leary  is  also  the  chief  executive  officer  of  Ryanair  Holdings  and  Ryanair.  None  of  the  other  directors  are 
executive officers of Ryanair Holdings or Ryanair. 

95 

 
 
 
 
David Bonderman (Chairman). David Bonderman has served as a director since August 1996 and has served 
as  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  since  December  1996.  In  1992,  Mr.  Bonderman  co-founded  TPG 
(formerly known as Texas Pacific  Group), a  private equity investment firm.  He  currently  serves as an officer 
and  director  of  the  general  partner  and  manager  of  TPG.  Mr.  Bonderman  is  also  an  officer,  director  and 
shareholder of 1996 Air G.P. Inc., which owns shares of Ryanair. He also serves on the boards of directors of 
the  following  public  companies:  Armstrong  World  Industries,  Inc.,  CoStar  Group,  Inc.  and  General  Motors 
Company. Mr. Bonderman is a U.S. citizen. 

Michael Horgan (Director). Michael Horgan has served as a director since January 2001. A former Chief Pilot 
of Aer Lingus, he has acted as a consultant to a number of international airlines, civil aviation authorities, the 
European  Commission  and  the  European  Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development.  Mr.  Horgan  is  the 
Chairman of the Company‘s Air Safety Committee. Mr. Horgan is an Irish citizen. 

Klaus  Kirchberger  (Director).  Klaus  Kirchberger  has  served  as  a  director  since  September  2002.  He  also 
serves as a director of a number of German corporations. Mr. Kirchberger is a German citizen. 

Charles McCreevy (Director). Charles McCreevy has served as a director since May 2010. Mr. McCreevy has 
previously served as EU Commissioner for Internal Markets and Services (2004-2010) and has held positions in 
several Irish Government Ministerial Offices, including Minister for Finance (1997-2004), Minister for Tourism 
& Trade (1993-1994) and Minister for Social Welfare (1992-1993). Mr. McCreevy is an Irish citizen. 

Declan McKeon (Director). Declan McKeon has served as a director since May 2010. Mr. McKeon is a former 
audit partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers and continues to act as a consultant to PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is 
currently a director, chairman of the audit committee, and a member of the compensation committee of Icon plc. 
Mr. McKeon is an Irish citizen. 

Kyran  McLaughlin  (Director).  Kyran  McLaughlin  has  served  as  a  director  since  January  2001,  and  is  also 
Deputy  Chairman  and  Head  of  Capital  Markets  at  Davy  Stockbrokers.  Mr.  McLaughlin  also  advised  Ryanair 
during its initial flotation on the Dublin and NASDAQ stock markets in 1997. Mr. McLaughlin serves on the 
Board of Directors of Elan Corporation plc, and he also serves as a director of a number of other Irish private 
companies. Mr. McLaughlin is an Irish citizen.  

Michael O‟Leary (Executive Director). Michael O‘Leary has served as a director of Ryanair since 1988 and a 
director of Ryanair Holdings since July 1996. Mr. O‘Leary was appointed chief executive officer of Ryanair on 
January 1, 1994. Mr. O‘Leary is an Irish citizen.  

James Osborne (Director).  James Osborne  has served as a director of Ryanair  Holdings  since  August 1996, 
and  has  been  a  director  of  Ryanair  since  April  1995.  Mr.  Osborne  is  a  former  managing  partner  of  A  &  L 
Goodbody  Solicitors.    He  is  also  a  former  Chairman  of  Independent  News  and  Media  plc  and  a  director  of 
James Hardie Industries NV.  He also serves as a director of a number of Irish private companies. Mr. Osborne 
is an Irish citizen. 

Paolo  Pietrogrande  (Director).  Paolo  Pietrogrande  has  served  as  a  director  since  2001.  He  is  presently 
Chairman of Element Power Solar. A chemical engineer by training, he has served as an executive at a number 
of  multinational  companies.  Mr.  Pietrogrande  currently  serves  on  the  board  of  AMKA  Onlus  (Not  for  Profit 
Company)  and  Camco  International  (LSE:  CAO)  where  he  is  also  chairman  of  the  audit  committee.  He  also 
serves on the advisory board of Wheb Ventures. Mr. Pietrogrande is a U.S. citizen. 

The Board of Directors has established a number of committees, including the following: 

Executive  Committee.  The  Board  of  Directors  established  the  Executive  Committee  in  August  1996. 
The Executive Committee can exercise the powers exercisable by the full Board of Directors in circumstances in 
which action by the Board of Directors is required but it is impracticable to convene a meeting of the full Board 
of  Directors.  Messrs.  Bonderman,  McLaughlin,  O‘Leary  and  Osborne  are  the  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  

96 

 
 
 
Remuneration  Committee.  The  Board  of  Directors  established  the  Remuneration  Committee  in 
September  1996.  This  committee  has  authority  to  determine  the  remuneration  of  senior  executives  of  the 
Company  and  to  administer  the  stock  option  plans  described  below.  The  Board  of  Directors  as  a  whole 
determines  the  remuneration  and  bonuses  of  the  chief  executive  officer,  who  is  the  only  executive  director. 
Messrs. Osborne, Pietrogrande and Kirchberger are the members of the Remuneration Committee. 

Audit Committee. The Board of Directors established the Audit Committee in September 1996 to make 
recommendations  concerning  the  engagement  of  independent  chartered  accountants;  to  review  with  the 
accountants the plans for and scope of each annual audit, the audit procedures to be utilized and the results of 
the audit; to approve the professional services provided by the accountants; to review the independence of the 
accountants;  and  to  review  the  adequacy  and  effectiveness  of  the  Company‘s  internal  accounting  controls. 
Messrs.  McKeon,  Osborne  and  McCreevy  are  the  members  of  the  Audit  Committee.  In  accordance  with  the 
recommendations  of  the  Irish  Combined  Code  of  Corporate  Governance  (the  ―Combined  Code‖),  a  senior 
independent non-executive director, Mr. McKeon, is the chairman of the Audit Committee. All members of the 
Audit  Committee  are  independent  for  purposes  of  the  listing  rules  of  the  NASDAQ  and  the  U.S.  federal 
securities laws. 

Nomination Committee. The Board of Directors established the Nomination Committee in May 1999 to 
make recommendations and proposals to the full Board of Directors concerning the selection of individuals to 
serve  as  executive  and  non-executive  directors.  The  Board  of  Directors  as  a  whole  then  makes  appropriate 
determinations  regarding  such  matters  after  considering  such  recommendations  and  proposals.  Messrs. 
Bonderman, McLaughlin and O‘Leary are the members of the Nomination Committee. 

Air Safety Committee. The Board of Directors established the Air Safety Committee in March 1997 to 
review and discuss air safety and related issues. The Air Safety Committee reports to the full Board of Directors 
each quarter. The Air Safety Committee is composed of Mr. Horgan (who acts as the chairman), as well as the 
following executive officers of Ryanair: Messrs. Conway, Hickey, O‘Brien and Wilson. 

Powers of, and Action by, the Board of Directors 

The  Board  of  Directors  is  empowered  by  the  Articles  to  carry  on  the  business  of  Ryanair  Holdings, 
subject to the Articles, provisions of general law and the right of stockholders to give directions to the directors 
by way of ordinary resolutions. Every director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Ryanair 
Holdings has one vote. In the case of a tie on a vote, the chairman of the Board of Directors has a second or tie-
breaking vote. A director may designate an alternate director to attend any Board of Directors meeting, and such 
alternate director shall have all the rights of a director at such meeting. 

The quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors, unless another number is fixed by the directors, 
consists of three directors, a majority of whom must be EU nationals. The Articles require the vote of a majority 
of the directors (or alternates) present at a duly convened meeting for the approval of any action by the Board of 
Directors. 

Composition and Term of Office 

The Articles provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of no fewer than three and no more than 
15 directors, unless otherwise determined by the stockholders. There is no maximum age for a  director and no 
director is required to own any shares of Ryanair Holdings. 

Directors  are  elected  (or  have  their  appointments  confirmed)  at  the  annual  general  meetings  of 
stockholders.  Save  in  certain  circumstances,  at  every  annual  general  meeting,  one-third  (rounded  down  to  the 
next whole number if it is a fractional number) of the directors (being the directors who have been longest in 
office)  must  stand  for  re-election  as  their  terms  expire.  Accordingly  the  terms  of  Michael  Horgan,  Kyran 
McLoughlin and Paolo Pietrogrande will have expired. Michael Horgan and Kyran McLoughlin will be eligible 
to offer themselves for re-election at the annual general meeting scheduled to be held on  September 21, 2012. 
Paolo Pietrogrande will not be offering himself for re-election. 

97 

 
 
Exemptions from NASDAQ Corporate Governance Rules  

The  Company  relies  on  certain  exemptions  from  the  NASDAQ  corporate  governance  rules.  These 

exemptions, and the practices the Company adheres to, are as follows:  

The  Company  is  exempt  from  NASDAQ‘s  quorum  requirements  applicable  to  meetings  of 
shareholders, which require a minimum quorum of 33% for any meeting of the holders of common 
stock,  which  in  the  Company‘s  case  are  its  Ordinary  Shares.  In  keeping  with  Irish  generally 
accepted business practice, the Articles provide for a quorum for general meetings of shareholders 
of three shareholders, regardless of the level of their aggregate share ownership. 

The  Company  is  exempt  from  NASDAQ‘s  requirement  with  respect  to  audit  committee  approval  of 
related-party  transactions,  as  well  as  its  requirement  that  shareholders  approve  certain  stock  or 
asset purchases when a director, officer or substantial shareholder has an interest. The Company is 
subject  to  extensive  provisions  under  the  Listing  Rules  of  the  Irish  Stock  Exchange  (the  ―Irish 
Listing  Rules‖)  governing  transactions  with  related  parties,  as  defined  therein,  and  the  Irish 
Companies  Act  also  restricts  the  extent  to  which  Irish  companies  may  enter  into  related-party 
transactions.  In  addition,  the  Articles  contain  provisions  regarding  disclosure  of  interests  by  the 
directors  and  restrictions  on  their  votes  in  circumstances  involving  conflicts  of  interest.  The 
concept of a related party for purposes of NASDAQ‘s audit committee and shareholder approval 
rules differs in certain respects from the definition of a transaction with a related party under the 
Irish Listing Rules. 

NASDAQ  requires  shareholder  approval  for  certain  transactions  involving  the  sale  or  issuance  by  a 
listed  company  of  common  stock  other  than  in  a  public  offering.  Under  the  NASDAQ  rules, 
whether shareholder approval is required for such transactions depends, among other things, on the 
number  of  shares  to  be  issued  or  sold  in  connection  with  a  transaction,  while  the  Irish  Listing 
Rules require shareholder approval when the size of a transaction exceeds a certain percentage of 
the size of the listed company undertaking the transaction. 

NASDAQ  requires  that  each  issuer  solicit  proxies  and  provide  proxy  statements  for  all  meetings  of 
shareholders and provide copies of such proxy solicitation to NASDAQ. The Company is exempt 
from this requirement as the solicitation of holders of ADSs is not required under the Irish Listing 
Rules or the Irish Companies Acts. Details of our annual general meetings and other shareholder 
meetings, together with the requirements for admission, voting or the appointment of a proxy are 
available  on  the  website  of  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  Irish  Companies  Acts  and  the 
Company‘s  Articles  of  Association.  ADS  holders  may  provide  instructions  to  The Bank  of  New 
York, as depositary, as to the voting of the underlying Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs. 
Alternatively, ADS holders  may convert their holding to Ordinary Shares, subject to compliance 
with the nationality ownership rules, in order to be eligible to attend our annual general meetings 
or other shareholder meetings. 

The Company also follows certain other practices under the UK Corporate Governance Code in lieu of 
those set forth in the NASDAQ corporate governance rules, as expressly permitted thereby. Most significantly:  

Independence. NASDAQ requires that a  majority of an issuer‘s Board of Directors be ―independent‖ 
under  the  standards  set  forth  in  the  NASDAQ  rules  and  that  directors  deemed  independent  be 
identified in the Company‘s annual report on Form 20-F. The Board of Directors has determined 
that each of the Company‘s eight non-executive directors is ―independent‖ under the standards set 
forth in the UK Corporate Governance Code. Under the UK Corporate Governance Code, there is 
no  bright-line  test  establishing  set  criteria  for  independence,  as  there  is  under  NASDAQ  Rule 
4200(a)(15).  Instead,  the  Board  of  Directors  determines  whether  the  director  is  ―independent  in 
character and judgment,‖ and whether there are relationships or circumstances which are likely to 
affect,  or  could  appear  to  affect,  the  director‘s  judgment.  Under  the  UK  Corporate  Governance 
Code,  the  Board  of  Directors  may  determine  that  a  director  is  independent  notwithstanding  the 
existence of relationships or circumstances which may appear relevant to its determination, but it 
should  state  its  reasons  if  it  makes  such  a  determination.  The  UK  Corporate  Governance  Code 
specifies that relationships or circumstances that may be relevant include whether the director: (i) 
has  been  an  employee  of  the  relevant  company  or  group  within  the  last  five  years;  (ii)  has  had 

98 

 
 
within the last three  years a  direct or indirect  material business relationship  with such company; 
(iii) has received payments from such company, subject to certain exceptions; (iv) has close family 
ties  with  any  of  the  company‘s  advisers,  directors  or  senior  employees;  (v)  holds  cross-
directorships  or  other  significant  links  with  other  directors;  (vi)  represents  a  significant 
shareholder; or (vii) has served on the Board of Directors for more than nine years. In determining 
that each of the eight non-executive directors is independent under the UK Corporate Governance 
Code  standard,  the  Ryanair  Holdings  Board  of  Directors  identified  such  relevant  factors  with 
respect 
to  non-executive  directors  Messrs.  Bonderman,  McLaughlin,  Osborne,  Horgan, 
Pietrogrande  and  Kirchberger.  When  arriving  at  the  decision  that  these  directors  are  nonetheless 
independent, the Board of Directors has taken into account the comments made by the Financial 
Reporting Council in its report dated December 2009 on its review of the impact and effectiveness 
of the UK Corporate Governance Code. The NASDAQ independence criteria specifically state that 
an individual may not be considered independent if, within the last three years, such individual or a 
member of his or her immediate family has had certain specified relationships with the company, 
its parent,  any consolidated subsidiary, its internal or external auditors, or any company that  has 
significant  business  relationships  with  the  company,  its  parent  or  any  consolidated  subsidiary. 
Neither ownership of a significant amount of stock nor length of service on the board is a  per se 
bar to independence under the NASDAQ rules. 

CEO compensation. The NASDAQ rules require that an issuer‘s chief executive officer not be present 
during voting or deliberations by the Board of Directors on his or her compensation. There is no 
such requirement under the UK Corporate Governance Code. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  concerning  the  executive  officers  of  Ryanair 

Holdings and Ryanair at June 30, 2012:   

Name 

Age 

Position 

Michael Cawley ........................................  
Ray Conway .............................................  
Caroline Green .........................................  
Michael Hickey ........................................  
Juliusz Komorek .......................................  
Howard Millar ..........................................  
David O‘Brien ..........................................  
Michael O‘Leary ......................................  
Edward Wilson .........................................  

58  Deputy Chief Executive; Chief Operating Officer  
57  Chief Pilot  
48  Director of Customer Service 
49  Director of Engineering  
34  Director of Legal & Regulatory Affairs; Company Secretary 
51  Deputy Chief Executive; Chief Financial Officer  
48  Director of Flight Operations and Ground Operations 
51  Chief Executive Officer 

   48  Director of Personnel and In-flight  

Michael Cawley (Deputy Chief Executive; Chief Operating Officer). Michael Cawley was appointed Deputy 
Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2003, having served as Chief Financial Officer and 
Commercial Director since February 1997. From 1993 to 1997, Michael served as Group Finance Director of 
Gowan  Group  Limited,  one  of  Ireland‘s  largest  private  companies  and  the  main  distributor  for  Peugeot  and 
Citröen automobiles in Ireland.  

Ray  Conway  (Chief  Pilot).  Captain  Ray  Conway  was  appointed  as  Chief  Pilot  in  June  2002,  having  joined 
Ryanair  in  1987.  He  has  held  a  number  of  senior  management  positions  within  the  Flight  Operations 
Department over the last 25 years, including Fleet Captain of the BAC1-11 and Boeing 737–200 fleets. Ray was 
Head of Training between 1998 and June 2002. Prior to joining Ryanair, Ray served as an officer with the Irish 
Air Corps for 14 years where he was attached to the Training and Transport Squadron, which was responsible 
for the Irish government jet.  

Caroline Green (Director of Customer Service). Caroline Green was appointed Director of Customer Service 
in February 2003. Prior to this, Caroline served as Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair.com between November 
1996  and  January  2003.  Before  joining  Ryanair,  Caroline  worked  in  senior  positions  at  a  number  of  airline 
computerized reservations system providers, including Sabre. 

99 

 
 
 
Michael  Hickey  (Director  of  Engineering).  Michael  Hickey  has  served  as  Director  of  Engineering  since 
January 2000. Michael has held a wide range of senior positions within the Engineering Department since 1988 
and  was  Deputy  Director  of  Engineering  between  1992  and  January  2000.  Prior  to  joining  Ryanair  in  1988, 
Michael worked as an aircraft engineer with Fields Aircraft Services and McAlpine Aviation, working primarily 
on executive aircraft.  

Juliusz  Komorek  (Director  of  Legal  &  Regulatory  Affairs;  Company  Secretary).  Juliusz  Komorek  was 
appointed  Company  Secretary  and  Director  of  Legal  and  Regulatory  Affairs  in  May  2009,  having  served  as 
Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs since 2007. Prior to joining the Company in 2004, Juliusz had 
gained relevant experience in the European Commission‘s Directorate General for Competition and in the Polish 
Embassy  to  the  EU  in  Brussels,  as  well  as  in  the  private  sector  in  Poland  and  the  Netherlands.  Juliusz  is  a 
lawyer, holding degrees from the universities of Warsaw and Amsterdam.  

Howard  Millar  (Deputy  Chief  Executive;  Chief  Financial  Officer).  Howard  Millar  was  appointed  Deputy 
Chief  Executive  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  on  January  1,  2003,  having  served  as  Director  of  Finance  of 
Ryanair from March 1993. Between April 1992 and March 1993 he served as Financial Controller of Ryanair. 
Howard  was  the  Group  Finance  Manager  for  the  Almarai  Group,  the  largest  integrated  dairy  food  processing 
company in the world, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 1988 to 1992. 

David  O‟Brien  (Director  of  Flight  Operations  and  Ground  Operations).  David  O‘Brien  was  appointed 
Director of Flight Operations and Ground Operations in December 2002; previously, he served as Director of 
Flight Operations of Ryanair from May 2002, having served as Director of  U.K. Operations since April 1998. 
Prior  to  that,  David  served  as  Regional  General  Manager  for  Europe  and  CIS  for  Aer  Rianta  International. 
Between 1992 and 1996, David served as Director of Ground Operations and In-flight for Ryanair.  

Michael  O‟Leary  (Chief  Executive  Officer).  Michael  O‘Leary  has  served  as  a  director  of  Ryanair  since 
November 1988 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 1994.  

Edward Wilson (Director of Personnel and In-flight). Edward Wilson was appointed Director of Personnel 
and  In-flight  in  December  2002,  prior  to  which  he  served  as  Head  of  Personnel  since  joining  Ryanair  in 
December 1997. Prior to joining Ryanair he served as Human Resources Manager for Gateway 2000 and held a 
number of other human resources-related positions in the Irish financial services sector. 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

Compensation 

The  aggregate  amount  of  compensation  paid  by  Ryanair  Holdings  and  its  subsidiaries  to  the  eight 
sitting non-executive directors and nine executive officers named above in the 2012 fiscal year was €6.0 million. 
For details of Mr. O‘Leary‘s compensation in such fiscal year, see ―—Employment and Bonus Agreement with 
Mr. O‘Leary‖ below.  

Each of  Ryanair Holdings‘ eight  non-executive  directors is entitled to receive  €32,000 plus expenses 
per annum, as remuneration for his services to Ryanair Holdings. Mr. Bonderman executed an agreement with 
Ryanair Holdings waiving his entitlement to receive this remuneration for the 2012 fiscal year. The additional 
remuneration  paid  to  Audit  Committee  members  for  service  on  that  committee  is  €15,000  per  annum.  Mr. 
Horgan  receives  €40,000  per  annum  in  connection  with  his  additional  duties  in  relation  to  the  Air  Safety 
Committee.  

For further details of stock options that have been granted to the Company‘s employees, including the 
executive  officers,  see  ―Item  10.  Additional  Information—Options  to  Purchase  Securities  from  Registrant  or 
Subsidiaries,‖ as well as Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included herein. 

100 

 
 
 
 
Employment and Bonus Agreement with Mr. O‟Leary 

Mr.  O‘Leary‘s  current  employment  agreement  with  the  Company  is  dated  July  1,  2002  and  can  be 
terminated  by  either  party  upon  12  months‘  notice.  Pursuant  to  the  agreement,  Mr.  O‘Leary  serves  as  Chief 
Executive  Officer  at  a  current  annual  gross  salary  of  €768,000,  subject  to  any  increases  that  may  be  agreed 
between the Company and Mr. O‘Leary. Mr. O‘Leary is also eligible for annual bonuses as determined by the 
Board of Directors of the Company; the  amount of such bonuses paid to Mr. O‘Leary in the 2012 fiscal  year 
totaled €504,000. Mr. O‘Leary is subject to a covenant not to compete  with the Company within the EU for a 
period  of  two  years  after  the  termination  of  his  employment  with  the  Company.  Mr.  O‘Leary‘s  employment 
agreement does not contain provisions providing for compensation on its termination. 

EMPLOYEES AND LABOR RELATIONS 

The following table sets forth the details of Ryanair‘s team at each of March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:  

Classification 

Number of Personnel at March 31, 
2011 

2010 

2012 

Management ..............................................  
Administrative ...........................................  
Maintenance ...............................................  
Ground Operations .....................................  
Pilots ..........................................................  
Flight Attendants* ......................................  

Total ...........................................................  

99 
280 
138 
243 
2,429 
5,199 

8,388 

95 
275 
149 
268 
2,344 
5,429 

8,560 

99 
276 
180 
297 
2,032 
4,284 

7,168 

* Decrease on prior year due to lower aircraft in operation in March 2012 and cabin crew staff being furloughed. 

Ryanair‘s pilots, flight attendants and maintenance and ground operations personnel undergo training, 
both initial and recurrent. A substantial portion of the initial training for Ryanair‘s flight attendants is devoted to 
safety procedures, and cabin crew are required to undergo annual evacuation and fire drill training during their 
tenure with the airline. Ryanair also provides salary increases to its engineers who complete advanced training 
in  certain  fields  of  aircraft  maintenance.  Ryanair  utilizes  its  own  Boeing  737-800  aircraft  simulators  for  pilot 
training.  

IAA regulations require pilots to be licensed as commercial pilots with specific ratings for each aircraft 
to be flown. In addition, IAA regulations require all commercial pilots to be medically certified as physically fit. 
At March 31, 2012, the average age of Ryanair‘s pilots was 34 years and their average period of employment 
with Ryanair was 4.8 years. Licenses and medical certification are subject to periodic re-evaluation and require 
recurrent  training  and  recent  flying  experience  in  order  to  be  maintained.  Maintenance  engineers  must  be 
licensed and qualified for specific aircraft types. Flight attendants must undergo initial and periodic competency 
training. Training programs are subject to approval and monitoring by the IAA. In addition, the appointment of 
senior management personnel directly involved in the supervision of flight operations, training, maintenance and 
aircraft inspection must be satisfactory to the IAA. Based on its experience in managing the airline‘s growth to 
date,  management  believes  that  there  is  a  sufficient  pool  of  qualified  and  licensed  pilots,  engineers  and 
mechanics  within  the  EU  to  satisfy  Ryanair‘s  anticipated  future  needs  in  the  areas  of  flight  operations, 
maintenance and quality control and that Ryanair will not face significant difficulty in hiring and continuing to 
employ the required personnel. Ryanair has also been able to satisfy its needs for additional pilots through the 
use  of  contract  agencies.    These  contract  pilots  are  included  in  the  table  above.  In  addition,  Ryanair  has  also 
been able to satisfy its needs for additional flight attendants through the use of contract agencies. These contract 
flight attendants are included in the table above. 

Ryanair has licensed approved organizations in Sweden and Holland to operate pilot training courses 
using Ryanair‘s syllabus, in order to grant Boeing 737 type-ratings. Each trainee pilot must pay for his or her 
own training and, based on his or her performance, he or she may be offered a position operating on Ryanair 
aircraft. This program enables Ryanair to secure a continuous stream of type-rated co-pilots.  

101 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ryanair‘s employees earn productivity-based incentive payments, including a sales bonus for onboard 
sales  for  flight  attendants  and  payments  based  on  the  number  of  hours  or  sectors  flown  by  pilots  and  flight 
attendants (within limits set by  industry  standards or regulations  fixing  maximum  working hours). During the 
2012 fiscal  year, such productivity-based incentive payments accounted for approximately 47% of an average 
flight attendant‘s total earnings and approximately 37% of the typical pilot‘s compensation.  Pilots at all Ryanair 
bases  are  covered  by  four-year  agreements  on  pay,  allowances  and  rosters  which  variously  fall  due  for 
negotiation between 2013 and 2015. In March 2012, Ryanair agreed to increase the pay of pilots and cabin crew 
in accordance with the terms of individual base agreements. The remaining employees who were not covered by 
base agreements had their salary frozen for a period of 12 months. Ryanair‘s pilots are currently subject to IAA-
approved  limits  of  100  flight-hours  per  28-day  cycle  and  900  flight-hours  per  fiscal  year.  For  the  2012  fiscal 
year,  the  average  flight-hours  for  Ryanair‘s  pilots  amounted  to  approximately  70  hours  per  month  and 
approximately 839 hours for the complete year, a 2% increase on the previous fiscal year. Were more stringent 
regulations on flight hours to be adopted, Ryanair‘s flight personnel could experience a reduction in their total 
pay due to lower compensation for the number of hours or sectors flown and Ryanair could be required to hire 
additional flight personnel.  

Ryanair considers its relations with its employees to be good. Ryanair currently negotiates with groups 
of  employees,  including  its  pilots,  through  ―Employee  Representation  Committees‖  (―ERCs‖)  regarding  pay, 
work  practices  and  conditions  of  employment,  including  conducting  formal  negotiations  with  these  internal 
collective bargaining units. Ryanair‘s senior management meets regularly with the different ERCs to discuss all 
aspects of the business and those issues that specifically relate to each relevant employee group.  

On  June  19,  2009,  BALPA  (the  U.K.  pilots  union)  made  a  request  for  voluntary  recognition  under 
applicable U.K. legislation,  which  Ryanair rejected. BALPA  had the option of applying to the U.K.‘s Central 
Arbitration Committee (CAC) to organize a vote on union recognition by Ryanair‘s pilots in relevant bargaining 
units, as determined by the CAC but BALPA decided not to proceed with an application at that time. The option 
to apply for a ballot remains open to BALPA and if it were to seek and be successful in such a ballot, it would 
be able to represent the U.K. pilots in negotiations over salaries and working conditions. 

Ryanair  Holdings‘  shareholders  have  approved  a  number  of  share  option  plans  for  employees  and 
directors.  Ryanair  Holdings  has  also  issued  share  options  to  certain  of  its  senior  managers.  For  details  of  all 
outstanding  share  options,  see  ―Item  10.  Additional  Information––Options  to  Purchase  Securities  from 
Registrant or Subsidiaries.‖ 

102 

 
 
 
 
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions 

As  of  June  30,  2012,  there  were  1,440,665,261  Ordinary  Shares  outstanding.  As  of  that  date, 
118,335,860 ADRs, representing 591,679,300 Ordinary Shares, were held of record in the  United States by 68 
holders, and represented in the aggregate 41.06% of the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. See ―Item 
10.  Additional  Information Articles  of  Association‖  and  ― Limitations  on  Share  Ownership  by  Non-EU 
Nationals.‖ 

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS 

Based on information available to Ryanair Holdings,  the following table summarizes the holdings of 
those shareholders holding 3% or more of the Ordinary Shares as of June 30, 2012, June 30, 2011 and June 30, 
2010, the latest practicable date prior to the Company‘s publication of its statutory annual report in each of the 
relevant years. 

Capital Research and Management  

No. of Shares 

As of June 30, 2012 

% of 
Class  No. of Shares 

As of June 30, 2011 
% of 
Class 

As of June 30, 2010 
% of 
Class 

No. of Shares 

Company. ..................................................  

239,479,390  16.6% 

242,547,995 

16.3% 

227,952,645 

15.4% 

Manning and Napier .....................................  

85,044,870 

BlackRock Inc ..............................................  

74,688,280 

Baille Gifford  ...............................................  

52,883,746 

Michael O‘Leary  ..........................................  

51,081,256 

Lloyds Banking Group  .................................  Not Reportable 

5.9% 

5.2% 

3.7% 

3.5% 

n/a 

76,774,465 

5.2%  Not Reportable 

82,794,588 
Not 
Reportable 

5.6% 

  Not Reportable 

n/a  Not Reportable 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

55,081,256 

3.7% 

         60,035,418 

4.0% 

50,892,144 

3.4% 

  Not Reportable 

n/a 

 As  of  June  30,  2012,  the  directors  and  executive  officers  of  Ryanair  Holdings  as  a  group  owned 
61,632,771  Ordinary  Shares,  representing  4.3%  of  Ryanair  Holdings‘  outstanding  Ordinary  Shares  as  of  such 
date. See also Note 19(d) to the consolidated financial statements included herein. Each of our shareholders has 
identical voting rights with respect to its Ordinary Shares. 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

The Company has not entered into any ―related party transactions‖ as defined in Item 7.B. of Form 20-

F in the three fiscal years ending March 31, 2012 or in the period from March 31, 2012 to the date hereof. 

Item 8. Financial Information 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

Please refer to ―Item 18. Financial Statements.‖ 

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

Legal Proceedings  

The  Company  is  engaged  in  litigation  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of  its  business.  Although  no 
assurance can be given as to the outcome of any current or pending litigation, management does not believe that 
any  of  such  litigation  will,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  results  of 
operations or financial condition of the Company, except as otherwise described below.  

103 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EU State Aid-Related Proceedings. On December 11, 2002, the European Commission announced the 
launch  of  an  investigation  into  the  2001  agreement  among  Ryanair,  the  Brussels  (Charleroi)  airport  and  the 
government of the Walloon Region of Belgium, the owner of the airport, which enabled the Company to launch 
new routes and base up to four aircraft at Brussels (Charleroi). The European Commission‘s investigation was 
based  on  an  anonymous  complaint  alleging  that  Ryanair‘s  arrangements  with  Brussels  (Charleroi)  constituted 
illegal state aid.  

The  European  Commission  issued  its  decision  on  February  12,  2004.  As  regards  the  majority  of  the 
arrangements between Ryanair, the airport and the region, the European Commission found that although they 
constituted  state  aid,  they  were  nevertheless  compatible  with  the  EC  Treaty  provisions  and  therefore  did  not 
require  repayment.  However,  the  European  Commission  also  found  that  certain  other  arrangements  did 
constitute  illegal  state  aid  and  therefore  ordered  Ryanair  to  repay  the  amount  of  the  benefit  received  in 
connection  with  those  arrangements.  On  April  20,  2004,  the  Walloon  Region  wrote  to  Ryanair  requesting 
repayment of such state aid, although it acknowledged that Ryanair could offset against the amount of such state 
aid  certain  costs  incurred  in  relation  to  the  establishment  of  the  base,  in  accordance  with  the  European 
Commission‘s decision. Ryanair made the requested repayment. 

On May 25, 2004, Ryanair appealed the decision of the European Commission to the CFI, requesting 

the court to annul the decision because: 

the  European  Commission  infringed  Article  253  of  the  EC  Treaty  by  failing  to  provide  adequate 

reasons for its decision; and 

the  European  Commission  misapplied  Article  87  of  the  EC  Treaty  by  failing  to  properly  apply  the 
Market Economy Investor Principle (MEIP), which generally holds that an investment made by a 
public entity that would have been made on the same basis by a private entity does not constitute 
state aid. 

In March 2008, Ryanair had its hearing before the CFI, and in December 2008, the CFI annulled the 
European Commission‘s decision, and Ryanair was repaid the €4 million that the Commission had claimed was 
illegal  state  aid.  The  Belgian  government  has  also  withdrawn  a  separate  €2.3  million  action  against  Ryanair 
arising from the European Commission‘s decision. 

In  July  2012,  the  European  Commission  concluded  that  the  financial  arrangements  between  the 
Tampere airport in Finland and Ryanair do not constitute state aid within the meaning of EU rules, because such 
arrangements are in line with market terms.   

Ryanair  is  facing  similar  legal  challenges  with  respect  to  agreements  with  certain  other  airports, 
notably  Lübeck,  Berlin  (Schönefeld),  Alghero,  Pau,  Aarhus,  Frankfurt  (Hahn),  Dusseldorf  (Weeze), 
Zweibrücken,  Altenburg,  Klagenfurt,  (Stockholm)  Vasteras,  Paris  (Beauvais),  La  Rochelle,  Carcassonne, 
Nimes, Angouleme, Marseille and Brussels (Charleroi). In January 2010, the European commission concluded 
the Bratislava state aid investigation with a finding that Ryanair‘s agreement with Bratislava airport involved no 
aid.  The  remaining  nineteen  investigations  involving  Ryanair  are  ongoing  and  Ryanair  currently  expects  that 
they will conclude within the next 12 months, with any European Commission‘s decisions appealable to the EU 
General Court. 

State aid complaints by Lufthansa about Ryanair‘s cost base at Frankfurt (Hahn) have been rejected by 
German  courts,  as  have  similar  complaints  by  Air  Berlin  in  relation  to  Ryanair‘s  arrangement  with  Lubeck 
airport, but following a German Supreme Court ruling on a procedural issue in early 2011, these cases will be 
re-heard  by  lower  courts.  In  addition,  Ryanair  has  been  involved  in  legal  challenges  including  allegations  of 
state aid at Alghero and Marseille airports. The Alghero case (initiated by Air One) was dismissed in its entirety 
in April 2011. The Marseille case was withdrawn by the plaintiffs (subsidiaries of Air France) in May 2011. 

In September 2005, the European Commission announced new guidelines on the financing of airports 
and  the  provision  of  start-up  aid  to  airlines  departing  from  regional  airports,  based  on  the  European 
Commission‘s  finding  in  the  Brussels  (Charleroi)  case,  which  Ryanair  successfully  appealed.  The  guidelines 
apply only to publicly owned regional airports, and place restrictions on the incentives these airports can offer 
airlines to deliver traffic. The guidelines apply only in cases in which the terms offered by a public airport are in 
excess of what a similar private airport would have offered. Ryanair deals with airports, both public and private, 

104 

 
 
on an equal basis and receives the same cost agreements from both. The guidelines have therefore had no impact 
on  Ryanair‘s  business,  although  they  have  caused  significant  uncertainty  in  the  industry  in  relation  to  what 
public airports may or may not do in order to attract traffic. 

Ryanair believes that the positive decision by the CFI in the  Brussels (Charleroi) case has caused the 
European  Commission  to  rethink  its  policy  in  this  area.  Ryanair  believes  that  the  CFI‘s  findings  should  be 
addressed  in  the  ongoing  revision  of  the  guidelines.  However,  adverse  rulings  in  the  above  or  similar  cases 
could be used as precedents by other competitors to challenge Ryanair‘s agreements with other publicly owned 
airports and could cause Ryanair to strongly reconsider its growth strategy in relation to public or state-owned 
airports across Europe. This could in turn lead to a scaling back of Ryanair‘s growth strategy due to the smaller 
number of privately owned airports available for development. No assurance can be given as to the outcome of 
these  proceedings,  nor  as  to whether  any  unfavorable  outcomes  may,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  have  a 
material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company. 

In November 2007, Ryanair initiated proceedings in the CFI against the European Commission for its 
failure to take action on a number of state aid complaints Ryanair had submitted against Air France, Lufthansa, 
Alitalia, Volare and Olympic Airways. Following the  European Commission‘s subsequent findings that illegal 
state  aid  had  been  provided  to  Air  France  and  Olympic  Airways,  Ryanair  withdrew  the  two  relevant 
proceedings.  The  case  related  to  Lufthansa  concluded  with  the  EU  General  Court‘s  ruling  in  May  2011,  in 
which the Court found that while the European Commission has not failed to act, it has unreasonably delayed 
the  launch  of  the  investigation,  which  justified  Ryanair‘s  action  for  failure  to  act.  Consequently,  the  Court 
ordered  the  European  Commission  to  pay  50%  of  Ryanair‘s  costs  in  the  proceedings.  Similarly,  in  October 
2011,  the  General  Court  found  that  the  European  Commission  has  failed  to  act  on  Ryanair‘s  2005-2006 
complaints against state aid to Alitalia. The European Commission has appealed that ruling. 

In  November  2008,  Ryanair  initiated  proceedings  in  the  CFI  contesting  the  European  Commission‘s 
refusal to grant Ryanair access to documents relating to the European Commission‘s state aid investigations at 
Hamburg  (Lubeck),  Tampere,  Berlin  (Schonefeld),  Alghero,  Pau,  Aarhus,  Bratislava  and  Frankfurt  (Hahn) 
airports. These cases were heard on July 7, 2010 and a judgment was issued in December 2010. The CFI found 
that  the  European  Commission  had  acted  in  line  with  applicable  legislation,  which  highlighted  the  unfairness 
inherent in state aid procedures in the EU,  whereby alleged beneficiaries of aid have no right of access to the 
European  Commission‘s  files  and  therefore  cannot  properly  exercise  their  rights  to  defense  and  good 
administration. The CFI ordered the European Commission to pay Ryanair‘s costs in three of the eight access to 
documents cases.  

In March 2009, Ryanair also appealed (to the CFI) two decisions issued by the European Commission 
in  November  2008  relating  to  the  sale  of  Alitalia‘s  assets  to  Compagnia  Aerea  Italiana  (CAI)  and  to  a  €300 
million  rescue  loan  granted  to  Alitalia  by  the  Italian  government  and  subsequently  converted  into  Alitalia‘s 
capital. A hearing in this case took place in June 2011 and judgment  rejecting Ryanair‘s appeal was issued in 
March 2012. Ryanair appealed this ruling to the EU Court of Justice.  

Matters  Related  to  Investment  in  Aer  Lingus.  During  the  2007  fiscal  year,  the  Company  acquired 
25.2% of Aer Lingus. The Company increased its interest to 29.3% during the 2008 fiscal year, and to 29.8% 
during  the  2009  fiscal  year  at  a  total  aggregate  cost  of  €407.2  million.  Following  the  acquisition  of  its  initial 
stake and upon the approval of the Company‘s shareholders, management proposed to effect a tender offer to 
acquire  the  entire  share  capital  of  Aer  Lingus.  This  2006  offer  was,  however,  prohibited  by  the  European 
Commission on competition grounds. Ryanair filed an appeal with the CFI, which was heard in July 2009. On 
July 6, 2010 the Court upheld the European Commission‘s decision. (see also: ―Item 5. Operating and Financial 
Review and Prospects—Business Overview‖). 

The then EU Commissioner for Competition, Neelie Kroes, said on June 27, 2007 that, ―Since Ryanair 
is not in a position to exert de jure or de facto control over Aer Lingus, the European Commission is not in a 
position to require Ryanair to divest its minority shareholding, which is, by the way, not a controlling stake.‖ In 
October 2007, the European Commission also reached a formal decision that it would not force Ryanair to sell 
its shares in Aer Lingus. However, Aer Lingus appealed this decision before the CFI. In January 2008, the CFI 
heard an application by Aer Lingus for interim measures limiting Ryanair‘s voting rights, pending a decision of 
the  CFI  on  Aer  Lingus‘  appeal  of  the  European  Commission‘s  decision  not  to  force  Ryanair  to  sell  the  Aer 
Lingus shares. In March 2008, the court dismissed Aer Lingus‘ application for interim measures. Aer Lingus‘ 
main appeal was heard in July 2009. On July 6, 2010 the court rejected Aer Lingus‘ appeal and confirmed that 

105 

 
 
Ryanair cannot be forced to dispose of its 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus had two months and 10 days 
from such date to appeal this judgment to the Court of Justice of the EU but chose not to do so. EU legislation 
may change  in the  future to require  such a  forced disposal. If eventually forced to dispose of its stake in  Aer 
Lingus, Ryanair could suffer significant losses due to the negative impact on market prices of the forced sale of 
such a significant portion of Aer Lingus‘ shares.  

On December 1, 2008, Ryanair made a second offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Aer Lingus 
it did not own at a price of €1.40 per ordinary share. Ryanair offered to keep Aer Lingus as a separate company, 
maintain the Aer Lingus brand, and retain its Heathrow slots and connectivity. Ryanair also proposed to double 
Aer  Lingus‘  short-haul  fleet  from  33  to  66  aircraft  and  to  create  1,000  associated  new  jobs  over  a  five-year 
period. If the offer had been accepted, the Irish government would have received over €180 million in cash. The 
employee share ownership trust and employees who owned 18% of Aer Lingus would have received over €137 
million in cash. The Company met Aer Lingus management, representatives of the employee share  ownership 
trust and other parties. The offer of €1.40 per  Aer Lingus share represented a premium of approximately 25% 
over  the  closing  price  of  €1.12  on  November  28,  2008.  Ryanair  also  advised  the  market  that  it  would  not 
proceed to seek EU approval for the new bid unless the shareholders agreed to sell their stakes in Aer Lingus to 
Ryanair. However, as the Company was unable to secure the shareholders‘ support it decided, on January 28, 
2009, to withdraw its second offer for Aer Lingus. 

The United Kingdom‘s Office of Fair Trading (―OFT‖) wrote to Ryanair in September 2010, advising 
that  it  intended  to  investigate  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus.  Ryanair  objected  on  the  basis  that  the 
OFT‘s  investigation  was  time-barred.  Ryanair  maintains  that  the  OFT  had  and  missed  the  opportunity  to 
investigate Ryanair‘s minority stake within four months from the European Commission‘s June 2007 decision to 
prohibit  Ryanair‘s  takeover  of  Aer  Lingus.  The  OFT  agreed  in  October  2010  to  suspend  its  investigation 
pending the outcome of Ryanair‘s appeal against the OFT‘s decision that its investigation is not time barred. On 
July 28, 2011, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that the OFT was not time barred when it attempted in 
September 2010 to open an investigation into Ryanair‘s 2006 acquisition of a minority non-controlling stake in 
Aer  Lingus.    Ryanair  subsequently  appealed  the  Competition  Appeal  Tribunal‘s  decision.    On  November  24, 
2011, the UK Court of Appeal ordered a stay of the OFT‘s investigation into Ryanair‘s minority stake in Aer 
Lingus pending the outcome of the appeal.  On May 22, 2012, the UK Court of Appeal found that the OFT was 
not time barred to investigate Ryanair‘s minority stake in Aer Lingus in September 2010. Ryanair subsequently 
sought  permission  to  appeal  this  ruling  to  the  UK  Supreme  Court  but  permission  was  refused.    On  June  15, 
2012,  the  OFT  referred  the  investigation  of  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  to  the  UK  Competition 
Commission. Ryanair welcomed this decision as it believes that the Competition Commission should find that 
since Ryanair has no influence over Aer Lingus through its minority stake, it cannot be forced to dispose of the 
stake. The Competition Commission could order Ryanair to divest some or all of its shares in Aer Lingus, as a 
result of which Ryanair could suffer significant losses due to the negative impact on market prices of the forced 
sale of such a significant portion of Aer Lingus‘ shares. 

On June 19, 2012, Ryanair made a third offer to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Aer Lingus it did 
not  own  at  a  price  of  €1.30  per  ordinary  share.    The  Company  immediately  commenced  pre-notification 
discussions with the European Commission for the purpose of preparing a merger filing.  Pending the outcome 
of  the  European  Commission‘s  review  of  Ryanair‘s  bid,  on  the  basis  of  the  duty  of  ―sincere  cooperation‖ 
between the EU and the Member States, and under the EU Merger Regulation, the Competition Commission‘s 
investigation  of  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  cannot  properly  proceed.  Nevertheless,  Aer  Lingus 
argued that the investigation should proceed and that Ryanair‘s June 19 offer was in breach of certain provisions 
of the UK Enterprise Act 2002. On July 10, 2012, the Competition Commission ruled that Ryanair‘s bid was not 
in  breach  of  the  UK  Enterprise  Act,  but  nevertheless  decided  that  its  investigation  of  the  minority  stake  can 
proceed  in  parallel  with  the  European  Commission‘s  investigation  of  the  June  19  offer.    On  July  13,  2012 
Ryanair  appealed  the  latter  part  of  the  Competition  Commission‘s  ruling  to  the  UK  Competition  Appeal 
Tribunal. The outcome of this appeal is currently expected within a relatively short timeframe of approximately 
3-4  weeks. Should the  Competition  Appeal Tribunal uphold Ryanair‘s appeal,  the Competition Commission‘s 
investigation  will  be  suspended  pending  the  EU  merger  review  process  of  the  June  19  offer,  including  any 
subsequent  appeals.  Should  Ryanair‘s  appeal  be  rejected,  the  Competition  Commission‘s  investigation  will 
proceed in parallel with the EU merger review process, however the Competition Commission could not in any 
event attempt to frustrate the European Commission‘s jurisdiction and/or decisions. 

The timing of the offer has been influenced by; (1) the continued consolidation of European airlines, 
and more recently the International Airlines Group (the parent company of British Airways) takeover of British 
Midland International, where the No.1 airline at Heathrow was allowed to acquire the No. 2; (2) the additional 
106 

 
 
capacity  available  at  Dublin  airport  following  the  opening  of  Terminal  2  and  the  decline  in  traffic  from  23.3 
million  passengers  per  annum  in  2007  to  18.7  million  in  2011,  resulting  in  Dublin  airport  operating  at 
approximately  50%  capacity;  (3)  the  change  in  the  Irish  government  policy  since  2006  in  that  the  Irish 
government has decided to sell its stake in Aer Lingus; (4) the fact that under the terms of the bailout agreement 
provided by the European Commission, European Central bank and International Monetary Fund to Ireland, the 
Irish  government  has  committed  to  sell  its  stake  in  Aer  Lingus;  (5)  the  fact  that  the  ESOT  (Employee  Share 
Ownership  Trust)  which  at  the  time  of  the  unsuccessful  2006  offer  controlled  15%  of  Aer  Lingus  has  been 
disbanded  since  December  2010  and  the  shares  distributed  to  the  individual  members,  with  the  result  that 
Ryanair‘s  new  offer  is,  in  Ryanair‘s  view,  capable  of  reaching  over  50%  acceptance  either  with  or  without 
government  acceptance;  and  (6)  the  fact  that  recently  Etihad,  an  Abu  Dhabi  based  airline,  has  acquired  a  3% 
stake in Aer Lingus and has expressed an interest in buying the Irish government‘s 25% stake in Aer Lingus (the 
offer  now  provides  Etihad  or  any  other  potential  bidder  the  opportunity  to  purchase  the  government‘s  stake). 
Ryanair is willing to offer the European Commission for Competition appropriate remedies to allay competition 
concerns,  and  it  believes  that  these  remedies,  as  well  as  the  efficiencies  and  synergies  arising  from  the 
combination, should allow the Commission to approve this proposed merger.  

Ryanair has offered to keep Aer Lingus as a separate company, maintain the Aer Lingus brand, and to 
grow  its  traffic  from  9.5  million  to  over  14.5  million  passengers  over  a  five  year  period  post  acquisition,  by 
growing Aer Lingus‘ short haul traffic at some of Europe‘s major airports where Aer Lingus currently operates 
and Ryanair does not. Ryanair also intends to increase Aer Lingus‘ transatlantic traffic from Ireland, which has 
fallen in recent  years, by investing in operations. If the  offer is accepted, the  Irish  government  would receive 
€173  million  in  cash.  The  offer  of  €1.30  per  share  represented  a  premium  of  approximately  38%  over  the 
closing  price  of  €0.94  for  Aer  Lingus  shares  as  of  June  19,  2012.  The  offer  is  conditional  on  competition 
approval by the European Commission.   The Company anticipates that the  EU Merger review process will be 
completed between September 2012 and February 2013. 

Legal  Actions  Against  Monopoly  Airports.  Ryanair  has  been  involved  in  a  number  of  legal  and 
regulatory actions against the Dublin and London (Stansted) airports in relation to what Ryanair considers to be 
ongoing abuses of their dominant positions in the Dublin and London (Stansted) markets. Management believes 
that  both  of  these  airports  have  been  engaging  in  ―regulatory  gaming‖  in  order  to  achieve  inflated  airport 
charges under the regulatory processes in the U.K. and Ireland. By inflating its so-called ―regulated asset base‖ 
(essentially the value of its airport facilities), a regulated airport can achieve higher returns on its assets through 
inflated airport charges. With respect to London (Stansted), the OFT, following complaints  from Ryanair and 
other airlines, has recognized that the regulatory process is flawed and provides perverse incentives to regulated 
airports to spend excessively on infrastructure in order to inflate their airport charges. The OFT referred the case 
to the Competition Commission which released its preliminary findings in April 2008. It found that the common 
ownership by BAA of the three main airports in London affects competition and that the ―light touch‖ regulation 
by the Civil Aviation Authority was having an adverse impact on competition. In March 2009, the Competition 
Commission published its final report on the BAA and ordered the breakup of the BAA, (which will involve the 
sale  of  London  (Gatwick)  and  London  (Stansted)  and  either  Glasgow  or  Edinburgh  Airport  in  Scotland).  In 
October 2009 London (Gatwick) was sold to Global Infrastructure Partners for £1.5 billion. In May 2009, BAA 
appealed  the  Competition  Commission‘s  decision  on  the  bases  of  apparent  bias  and  lack  of  proportionality. 
Ryanair secured the right to intervene in this appeal in support of the Competition Commission. The case was 
heard  in  October  2009  and  in  February  2010  the  Competition  Appeal  Tribunal  quashed  the  Competition 
Commission‘s ruling on the basis of the ―apparent bias‖ claim. This decision was successfully appealed by both 
the Competition Commission and Ryanair before the Court of Appeal. The appeal was heard in June 2010 and 
the judgment was issued in October 2010, quashing the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling and reinstating the 
Competition Commission March 2009 decision. In February 2011, the Supreme Court refused to grant the BAA 
permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling. The Competition Commission has subsequently reconsidered 
the  appropriateness  of  the  remedies  imposed  on  the  BAA  in  March  2009  in  light  of  the  passage  of  time,  and 
confirmed in its preliminary report in April 2011 that the remedies are still appropriate and the sale of Stansted 
and  one  of  either  Glasgow  or  Edinburgh  airports  should  proceed.  In  July  2011,  the  Competition  Commission 
confirmed its March 2011 provisional decision on ―possible material changes of circumstances.‖ It found that no 
material  changes  of  circumstances  (that  would  necessitate  a  change  in  the  remedies  package)  have  occurred 
since  the  March  2009  decision  requiring  the  BAA  to  sell  Gatwick,  Stansted  and  one  of  either  Glasgow  or 
Edinburgh  airports,  and  that  consequently  the  BAA  should  proceed  to  dispose  of  Stansted  and  one  of  the 
Scottish airports. The BAA appealed this decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, and lost on February 1, 
2012. The BAA then brought a further appeal to the Court of Appeal, which they also lost on July 26, 2012. The 
BAA then announced that they intend to appeal this decision to the  UK Supreme  Court in 2012. While these 
appeals  were  ongoing,  the  BAA  proceeded  to  sell  Edinburgh  airport  in  April  2012.  Ryanair  believes  that 
107 

 
 
Stansted airport will be sold in the next 6-12 months, unless the BAA is successful in the Court of Appeal or 
unless it manages to appeal a negative Court of Appeal ruling to the Supreme Court, which would likely delay 
the sale further.   

With respect to Dublin airport, Ryanair appealed the December 2009 decision of the CAR, which set 
maximum  charges  at  the  airport  for  2010  through  2014,  to  the  Appeals  Panel  set  up  by  the  Minister  for 
Transport.  In  June  2010,  the  Appeals  Panel  found  in  favor  of  Ryanair  on  the  matter  of  differential  pricing 
between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, recommending that such differential pricing be imposed by the CAR.  The 
CAR  subsequently  overruled  the  decision  of  the  Appeals  panel  and  allowed  the  charges  increase  at  Dublin 
Airport, with no differential pricing between Terminals 1 and 2. 

Ryanair  has  also  been  trying  to  prevent  both  the  BAA  in  London  and  the  DAA  in  Dublin  from 
engaging in  wasteful capital  expenditure. In the case of London (Stansted) Airport,  the BAA  was planning to 
spend £4 billion on a second runway and terminal, which Ryanair believes should only cost approximately £1 
billion.  Following  the  final  decision  of  the  Competition  Commission  forcing  BAA  to  sell  London  (Stansted) 
airport,  Ryanair believed that it  was highly  unlikely that BAA‘s planned £4 billion plans  would proceed.  The  
Liberal/Conservative  government  in  the  U.K.  had  also  outlined  that  it  would  not  approve  the  building  of  any 
more runways in the Southeast of England. Consequently, in May 2010, the BAA announced that it would not 
pursue its plans to develop a second runway at London (Stansted). 

In the case of Dublin, the DAA has built a second terminal, costing over four times its initial estimate. 
When the DAA first announced plans to build a second terminal (―Terminal 2‖) at Dublin Airport, it estimated 
that  the  proposed  expansion  would  cost  between  €170  million  and  €200  million.  Ryanair  supported  a 
development of this scale; however, in September 2006, the DAA announced that the construction of Terminal 2 
would cost approximately €800 million. Subsequently, the cost of the new infrastructure rose in excess of €1.2 
billion. Ryanair opposed expansion at what it believed to be an excessive cost. On August 29, 2007, however 
the relevant planning authority approved the planning application from the DAA for the building of Terminal 2, 
and other facilities, all of which went ahead. On May 1, 2010, the airport fees per departing passenger increased 
by 27% from €13.61 to €17.23, and by a further 12% in 2011 following the opening of Terminal 2 in November 
2010 in accordance with the CAR‘s decision of December 4, 2009 in relation to airport charges between 2010 
and  2014.  Ryanair  sought  a  judicial  review  of  the  planning  approval,  however,  this  appeal  was  unsuccessful. 
The increase in charges, in combination with the introduction of the €10 Air Travel Tax (subsequently reduced 
to €3) mentioned above, led to substantially reduced passenger volumes to and from Dublin Airport.  See ―Item 
3.  Risk  Factors Risks  Related  to  the  Company Ryanair‘s  Continued  Growth  is  Dependent  on  Access  to 
Suitable Airports; Charges for Airport Access are Subject to Increase‖ and ―—The Company Is Subject to Legal 
Proceedings Alleging State Aid at Certain Airports,‖ as well as ―Item 4. Information on the Company—Airport 
Operations—Airport Charges.‖ 

 Legal  Proceedings  Against  Internet  Ticket  Touts.  The  Company  is  involved  in  a  number  of  legal 
proceedings against internet ticket touts (screenscraper websites) in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, France, 
Spain, Italy and Switzerland. Screenscraper websites gain unauthorized access to Ryanair‘s website and booking 
system, extract flight and pricing information and display it on their own websites for sale to customers at prices 
which include intermediary fees on top of Ryanair‘s fares. Ryanair does not allow any such commercial use of 
its  website  and  objects  to  the  practice  of  screenscraping  also  on  the  basis  of  certain  legal  principles,  such  as 
database  rights,  copyright  protection,  etc.  The  Company‘s  objective  is  to  prevent  any  unauthorized  use  of  its 
website.  The  Company  also  believes  that  the  selling  of  airline  tickets  by  screenscraper  websites  is  inherently 
anti-consumer  as  it  inflates  the  cost  of  air  travel.  At  the  same  time,  Ryanair  encourages  genuine  price 
comparison websites which allow consumers to compare prices of several airlines and then refer consumers to 
the airline website in order to perform the booking at the original fare. Ryanair offers licensed access to its flight 
and pricing information to such websites. The Company has received favorable rulings in Ireland, Germany and 
The  Netherlands.  However,  pending  the  outcome  of  these  legal  proceedings  and  if  Ryanair  were  to  be 
unsuccessful  in  them,  the  activities  of  screenscraper  websites  could  lead  to  a  reduction  in  the  number  of 
customers  who  book  directly  on  Ryanair‘s  website  and  consequently  in  a  reduction  in  the  ancillary  revenue 
stream. Also, some customers may be lost to the Company once they are presented by a screenscraper website 
with  a  Ryanair  fare  inflated  by  the  screenscraper‘s  intermediary  fee.  See  Item  3.  Key  Information—Risk 
Factors—Risks  Related  to  the  Company—Ryanair  Faces  Risks  Related  to  Unauthorized  Use  of  Information 
from the Company‘s Website.‖  

108 

 
 
 
 
Dividend Policy 

Following shareholder approval at the September 2010 annual general meeting of shareholders, a €500 
million special dividend was paid in October 2010. On May 21, 2012, the Company indicated that it may pay a 
further  dividend  of  €0.34  per  ordinary  share  (approximately  €489  million)  in  November  2012,  subject  to 
shareholder approval at the annual shareholder meeting on September 21, 2012. The Company may pay other 
dividends  from  time  to  time,  or  it  may  not  pay  any  dividends  at  all,  as  has  been  its  practice  to  date.  No 
assurances  can  be  given  that  the  Company  will,  or  will  not,  pay  dividends.  Any  cash  dividends  or  other 
distributions,  if  made,  are  expected  to  be  made  in  euro,  although  Ryanair  Holdings‘  Articles  provide  that 
dividends may be declared and paid in U.S. dollars. In the case of ADRs, the Depositary will convert all cash 
dividends and other distributions payable to owners of ADRs into U.S. dollars to the extent that, in its judgment, 
it  can  do  so  on  a  reasonable  basis,  and  will  distribute  the  resulting  U.S.  dollar  amounts  (net  of  conversion 
expenses and any applicable fees) to the owners of ADRs. See ―Item 12. Description of Securities Other than 
Equity Securities‖ for information regarding fees of the Depositary. 

Share Buy-back Program 

Following  shareholder  approval  at  the  2006  annual  general  meeting  of  shareholders,  a  €300  million 
share  buy-back  program  was  formally  announced  on  June  5,  2007.  Permission  was  received  at  the  annual 
general  meeting  of  the  shareholders  held  on  September  20,  2007  to  repurchase  a  maximum  of  75.6  million 
Ordinary Shares representing 5% of the Company‘s then outstanding share capital. The €300 million share buy-
back of approximately 59.5 million Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 3.8% of the Company‘s pre-
existing share capital, was completed in November 2007. In February 2008 the Company announced a second 
share buy-back program of up to €200 million worth of Ordinary Shares, which was ratified by shareholders at 
the annual general meeting of the shareholders held on September 18, 2008. 18.1 million Ordinary Shares were 
repurchased  under  this  program  at  a  cost  of  approximately  €46.0  million.  The  Company  also  completed  the 
share  buy-back  of  €125  million  in  respect  of  36.5  million  Ordinary  Shares  in  the  2012  fiscal  year.    In  April 
2012, the Company completed a share buy-back of 15 million Ordinary Shares at a cost of approximately €68 
million. As a result, the total amount spent on the share buy-back programs was approximately €538.1 million.  
All Ordinary Shares repurchased have been cancelled. 

In  April  2012,  the  Company  held  an  extraordinary  general  meeting  to  authorize  the  directors  to 
repurchase Ordinary Shares and ADRs  for up to 5% of the issued share capital of the Company traded on the 
NASDAQ.  Up until April 2012, shareholders had only authorized the directors to repurchase Ordinary Shares. 
As  the  ADRs  typically  trade  at  a  premium  of  15%  to  20%  compared  to  Ordinary  Shares,  this  may  result  in 
increased costs in performing share buy-backs in the future. At this time the Company has not decided whether 
it will complete further share repurchases and whether it will repurchase Ordinary Shares or ADRs.   

 See ―Item 9. The Offer and Listing - Trading Markets and Share Prices‖ below for further information 

regarding share buy-backs. 

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES 

No  significant  change  in  the  Company‘s  financial  condition  has  occurred  since  the  date  of  the 

consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. 

109 

 
 
Item 9. The Offer and Listing 

TRADING MARKETS AND SHARE PRICES 

The primary market for Ryanair Holdings‘ Ordinary Shares is the Irish Stock Exchange Limited (the 
―Irish Stock Exchange‖); Ordinary Shares are also traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Ordinary Shares 
were  first  listed  for  trading  on  the  Official  List  of  the  Irish  Stock  Exchange  on  June  5,  1997  and  were  first 
admitted to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange on July 16, 1998. 

ADRs,  each  representing  five  Ordinary  Shares,  are  traded  on  NASDAQ.  The  Bank  of  New  York 
Mellon  is  Ryanair  Holdings‘  depositary  for  purposes  of  issuing  ADRs  evidencing  the  ADSs.  The  following 
tables  set  forth,  for  the  periods  indicated,  the  reported  high  and  low  closing  sales  prices  of  the  ADRs  on 
NASDAQ and for the Ordinary Shares on the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, and have 
been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one split of the Ordinary Shares and ADRs effected on February 26, 2007: 

*All quarterly high and low prices for ADRs and Ordinary Shares in the following tables refer to calendar year quarters and not fiscal year 
quarters 

2006 ...................................................................................................  
2007 ...................................................................................................  
2008 ...................................................................................................  
2009 ...................................................................................................  
2010 

First Quarter* .................................................................................  
Second Quarter ..............................................................................  
Third Quarter .................................................................................  
Fourth Quarter ...............................................................................  

2011 

First Quarter ...................................................................................  
Second Quarter ..............................................................................  
Third Quarter .................................................................................  
Fourth Quarter ...............................................................................  

Month ending: 

January 31, 2012 ............................................................................  
February 29, 2012 ..........................................................................  
March 31, 2012 ..............................................................................  
April 30, 2012 ................................................................................  
May 31, 2012 .................................................................................  
June 30, 2012 .................................................................................  
Period ending July 13, 2012 ..............................................................  

ADRs 
(in U.S. dollars) 

High 

40.750 
49.560 
35.482 
29.586 

26.327 
28.606 
30.810 
33.090 

31.990  
30.560 
29.730  
30.820  

33.540  
35.040  
36.280  
36.890  
35.440  
31.080 
30.440  

Low 

23.365 
36.210 
15.089 
20.779 

24.471 
21.268 
26.053 
29.200 

26.580  
27.970  
24.200  
25.410  

27.770  
33.230  
33.460  
33.100  
30.450  
29.330 
28.980  

110 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Ordinary Shares 
(Irish Stock Exchange) 
(in euro) 

High 

5.24 
6.33 
4.20 
3.45  

3.38 
3.73 
3.92 
4.19 

3.98  
3.64 
3.58  
3.84 

4.19  
4.35  
4.48  
4.49  
 4.43 
4.08 
4.09  

Low 

3.25 
4.40 
1.80 
2.51  

3.05 
2.77 
3.27 
3.67 

3.13  
3.32  
2.82  
3.15  

3.68  
4.04  
4.16  
4.20  
3.91  
3.83 
3.94  

Ordinary Shares 
(London Stock Exchange) 
(in euro) 

High 

5.21 
6.30 
4.20 
3.45 

3.39 
3.71 
3.91 
4.19 

3.97 
3.65 
3.58 
3.85 

4.19 
4.36 
4.48 
4.49 
4.42 
4.09 
4.10 

Low 

3.24 
4.44 
1.81 
2.50 

3.03 
2.76 
3.27 
3.65 

3.13 
3.31 
2.83 
3.14 

3.68 
4.05 
4.16 
4.20 
3.93 
3.84 
3.95 

2006 ...................................................................................................  
2007 ...................................................................................................  
2008 ...................................................................................................  
2009 ...................................................................................................  
2010 

First Quarter ...................................................................................  
Second Quarter ..............................................................................  
Third Quarter .................................................................................  
Fourth Quarter ...............................................................................  

2011 

First Quarter ...................................................................................  
Second Quarter ..............................................................................  
Third Quarter .................................................................................  
Fourth Quarter ...............................................................................  

Month ending: 

January 31, 2012 ............................................................................  
February 28, 2012 ..........................................................................  
March 31, 2012 ..............................................................................  
April 30, 2012 ................................................................................  
May 31, 2012 .................................................................................  
June 30, 2012 .................................................................................  
Period ending July 13, 2012 ..............................................................  

2006 ...................................................................................................  
2007 ...................................................................................................  
2008 ...................................................................................................  
2009 ...................................................................................................  
2010 

First Quarter ...................................................................................  
Second Quarter ..............................................................................  
Third Quarter .................................................................................  
Fourth Quarter ...............................................................................  

2011 

First Quarter ...................................................................................  
Second Quarter ..............................................................................  
Third Quarter .................................................................................  
Fourth Quarter ...............................................................................  

Month ending: 

January 31, 2012 ............................................................................  
February 28, 2012 ..........................................................................  
March 31, 2012 ..............................................................................  
April 30, 2012 ................................................................................  
May 31, 2012 .................................................................................  
June 30, 2012 .................................................................................  
Period ending July 13, 2012 ..............................................................  

111 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Since certain of the Ordinary Shares are held by brokers or other nominees, the number of direct record 
holders  in  the  United  States,  which  is  reported  above  68, may  not  be  fully  indicative  of  the  number  of  direct 
beneficial owners in the United States, or of where the direct beneficial owners of such shares are resident. 

In order to increase the percentage of its share capital held by EU nationals, beginning June 26, 2001, 
Ryanair Holdings instructed the Depositary to suspend the issuance of new ADRs in exchange for the deposit of 
Ordinary  Shares  until  further  notice.  Therefore,  holders  of  Ordinary  Shares  cannot  currently  convert  their 
Ordinary  Shares into  ADRs.  The Depositary  will  however convert existing  ADRs into  Ordinary Shares at the 
request  of  the  holders  of  such  ADRs.  The  Company  in  2002  implemented  additional  measures  to  restrict  the 
ability of non-EU nationals to purchase Ordinary Shares. As a result, non-EU nationals are currently effectively 
barred  from  purchasing  Ordinary  Shares.  See  ―Item  10.  Additional  Information—Limitations  on  Share 
Ownership by Non-EU Nationals‖ for additional information. 

The Company, at its annual general meeting of the Shareholders, has, in recent years, passed a special 
resolution  permitting  the  Company  to  engage  in  Ordinary  Share  buy-back  programs  subject  to  certain  limits 
noted below. Since June 2007 (when the  Company engaged in its first Ordinary Share buy-back program) the 
Company has repurchased the following Ordinary Shares: 

Year ended March 31,  

No. of shares („m) 

Approx. cost (€‟m) 

2008 ..........................................................................  
2009 ..........................................................................  
2010 ..........................................................................  
2011 ..........................................................................  
2012 ..........................................................................  
2013 (as at July 13, 2012) .........................................  

Total ..........................................................................  

59.5 
18.1 
- 
- 
36.5 
15.0 

129.1 

300.0 
46.0 
- 
- 
124.6 
67.5 

538.1 

All Ordinary Shares repurchased have been cancelled. 

The maximum price  at  which the Company  may repurchase  Ordinary Shares, in accordance  with the 
listing rules of the Irish Stock Exchange and of the Financial Services Authority, is the higher of 5% above the 
average  market  value  of  the  Company‘s  Ordinary  Shares  for  the  five  business  days  prior  to  the  day  of  the 
repurchase and the price stipulated by Article 5(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) of 22 December 2003 (No. 
2273/2003)  (which  is  the  higher  of  the  last  independent  trade  and  the  highest  current  independent  bid  on  the 
Irish  Stock  Exchange).  The  minimum  price  at  which  the  Company  may  repurchase  Ordinary  Shares  is  their 
nominal value, currently 0.635 euro cent per share. 

At an extraordinary general meeting of Shareholders held on April 19, 2012 the Company obtained a 
new repurchase authority which will enable the Company to repurchase the Company‘s ADRs which are traded 
on  NASDAQ.  The  maximum  price  at  which  Ordinary  Shares  which  underlie  the  Company‘s  ADRs  can  be 
repurchased  is  5%  above  the  average  market  value  of  one-fifth  of  the  Company‘s  ADRs  as  quoted  on 
NASDAQ,  for  the  five  business  days  prior  to  the  date  of  purchase  (as  one  ADS  represents  five  Ordinary 
Shares). Any ADRs purchased will be converted to Ordinary Shares by the Company‘s brokers for subsequent 
repurchase and cancellation by the Company. 

As  of  June  30,  2012,  the  total  number  of  options  over  Ordinary  Shares  outstanding  under  all  of  the 
Company‘s share option plans was 17,912,382, representing 1.2% of the Company‘s issued share capital at that 
date. 

112 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 10. Additional Information 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 

Ryanair  Holdings‘  capital  stock  consists  of  Ordinary  Shares,  each  having  a  par  value  of  0.635  euro 
cent. As of March 31, 2012, a total of 1,455,593,261 Ordinary Shares were outstanding. On February 26, 2007, 
Ryanair effected a 2-for-1 share split as a result of which each of its then existing Ordinary Shares, par value 
1.27 euro cent, was split into two new Ordinary Shares, par value 0.635 euro cent. Each Ordinary Share entitles 
the holder thereof to one vote in respect of any matter voted upon by Ryanair Holdings‘ shareholders. 

OPTIONS TO PURCHASE SECURITIES FROM REGISTRANT OR SUBSIDIARIES 

Ryanair  Holdings‘  shareholders  approved  a  stock  option  plan  (referred  to  herein  as  ―Option  Plan 
2000‖),  under  which  all  employees  and  directors  are  eligible  to  receive  options.  Grants  of  options  were 
permitted  to  take  place  at  the  close  of  any  of  the  ten  years  beginning  with  fiscal  year  2000  only  if  the 
Company‘s net profit after tax for such fiscal year had exceeded its net profit after tax for the prior fiscal year by 
at  least  25%,  or  if  an  increase  of  1%  in  net  profit  after  tax  for  the  relevant  year  would  have  resulted  in  such 
requirement being met. 

Ryanair Holdings‘ shareholders have also approved a stock option plan (referred to herein as ―Option 
Plan 2003‖) established in accordance with a then tax-favorable share option scheme available under Irish law, 
so that employees would not be subject to income tax on the exercise of options (subject to certain conditions). 
Option Plan 2003 was approved by the Revenue Commissioners on July 4, 2003 for the purposes of Chapter 4, 
Part 17, of the Irish Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 and Schedule 12C of that act. Following the publication of 
the  Irish  National  Recovery  Plan:  2011-2014  (the  ―NRP‖)  on  November  24,  2010,  Revenue  approved  share 
option  plans,  such  as  Option  Plan  2003,  no  longer  qualified  for  favorable  tax  treatment  from  that  date.  All 
employees and full-time directors are eligible to participate in the plan, under which grants of options may be 
made at the close of any of the ten years beginning with fiscal year 2002 only if the Company‘s net profit after 
tax  for  such  fiscal  year  has  exceeded  its  net  profit  after  tax  for  the  prior  fiscal  year  by  at  least  25%,  or  if  an 
increase of 1% in net profit after tax for the relevant year would have resulted in such requirement being met. 

Under Option Plan 2000, 20 senior managers (including seven of the current executive officers) were 
granted 10,500,000 share options, in the aggregate, at a strike price of €3.21 in July 2005. These options have 
either become exercisable or will become exercisable between August 1, 2010 and August 31, 2013, subject to 
certain targets being achieved and other conditions being complied with. Not all of the vesting conditions have 
been met, and as a result only 80% of the options granted that satisfied the conditions were exercisable.  The 
Company  recognized  a  credit  of  €2.5  million  in  relation  to  the  options  that  did  not  vest  in  June  2011.  Also, 
under Option Plan 2000, each of the non-executive directors were granted 25,000 share options, at a strike price 
of €4.96, during the 2008 fiscal year. These options will become exercisable between June 2012 and June 2014. 
In  addition,  39  senior  managers  (including  eight  of  the  current  executive  officers)  were  granted  10,000,000 
share  options,  in  the  aggregate,  under  Option  Plan  2000,  at  a  strike  price  of  €2.56,  on  September  18,  2008. 
These  options  will  become  exercisable  between  September  18,  2013  and  September  17,  2015,  but  only  for 
managers who continue to be employed by the Company through September 18, 2013. 

Under Option Plan 2003, 47 senior managers (including seven of the current executive officers) were 
granted 5,550,000 share options at a strike price of €2.35 on November 3, 2004. These options, which became 
exercisable in June 2009, had to be fully exercised by June 30, 2011. 

The  aggregate  of  17,912,382  Ordinary  Shares  that  would  be  issuable  upon  exercise  in  full  of  the 
options that were outstanding as of June 30, 2012 under Company‘s option plan represent approximately 1.2% 
of the issued share capital of Ryanair Holdings as of such date. Of such total, options in respect of an aggregate 
of 9,505,000 Ordinary Shares were held by the directors and executive officers of Ryanair Holdings. For further 
information, see notes 15 and 19 to the consolidated financial statements included herein. 

113 

 
 
 
 
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION 

The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Articles of Association of Ryanair Holdings. 
This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of 
the Articles, which are included as an exhibit to this annual report. 

Objects. Ryanair Holdings‘ objects, which are detailed in its Articles, are broad and include carrying on 
business  as  an  investment  and  holding  company.  Ryanair  Holdings‘  Irish  company  registration  number  is 
249885.  

Directors.  Subject  to  certain  exceptions,  directors  may  not  vote  on  matters  in  which  they  have  a 
material  interest.  The  ordinary  remuneration  of  the  directors  is  determined  from  time  to  time  by  ordinary 
resolutions  of  the  shareholders.  Any  director  who  holds  any  executive  office,  serves  on  any  committee  or 
otherwise performs services, which, in the opinion of the directors, are outside the scope of the ordinary duties 
of a director, may be paid such extra remuneration as the directors may determine. The directors may exercise 
all the powers of the  Company to borrow money. These powers may be amended by special resolution of the 
shareholders. The directors are not required to retire at any particular age. There is no requirement for directors 
to  hold  shares.  One-third  of  the  directors  retire  and  offer  themselves  for  re-election  at  each  annual  general 
meeting of the Company. The directors to retire by rotation are those who have been longest in office since their 
last appointment or reappointment.  As between persons who became or were appointed directors on the same 
date,  those  to  retire  are  determined  by  agreement  between  them  or,  otherwise,  by  lot.  All  of  the  shareholders 
entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  annual  general  meeting  of  the  Company  may  vote  on  the  re-election  of 
directors.  

Annual and General Meetings.  Annual and extraordinary  meetings are called upon 21 days‘ advance 
notice.  At  Ryanair‘s  annual  general  meeting,  held  on  September  22,  2010,  the  Company‘s  Articles  of 
Association  were  amended  by  special  resolution  to  reflect  the  implementation  of  the  Shareholders‘  Rights 
(Directive 2007/36/EC) Regulations 2009 to allow all Ryanair shareholders to appoint proxies electronically to 
attend, speak, ask questions and vote on behalf of them at annual general meetings and to reflect certain other 
provisions  of  those  Regulations.  All  holders  of  Ordinary  Shares  are  entitled  to  attend,  speak  at  and  vote  at 
general meetings of the Company, subject to limitations described below under ―—Limitations on the Right to 
Own Shares.‖ 

Rights,  Preferences  and  Dividends  Attaching  to  Shares.  The  Company  has  only  one  class  of  shares, 
Ordinary  Shares  with  a  par  value  of  0.635  euro  cent  per  share.  All  such  shares  rank  equally  with  respect  to 
payment of dividends and on any winding-up of the Company. Any dividend, interest or other sum payable to a 
shareholder that remains unclaimed for one year after having been declared may be invested by the directors for 
the  benefit  of  the  Company  until  claimed.  If  the  directors  so  resolve,  any  dividend  which  has  remained 
unclaimed  for  12  years  from  the  date  of  its  declaration  shall  be  forfeited  and  cease  to  remain  owing  by  the 
Company. The Company is permitted under its Articles to issue redeemable shares on such terms and in such 
manner as the Company may, by special resolution, determine. The Ordinary Shares currently in issue are not 
redeemable. The liability of shareholders to invest additional capital is limited to the amounts remaining unpaid 
on the shares held by them. There are no sinking fund provisions in the Articles of the Company. 

Action Necessary to Change the Rights of Shareholders. The rights attaching to shares in the Company 

may be varied by special resolutions passed at meetings of the shareholders of the Company. 

Limitations  on  the  Rights  to  Own  Shares.  The  Articles  contain  detailed  provisions  enabling  the 
directors  of  the  Company  to  limit  the  number  of  shares  in  which  non-EU  nationals  have  an  interest  or  the 
exercise by non-EU nationals of rights attaching to shares. See ―—Limitations on Share Ownership by Non-EU 
Nationals‖  below.  Such  powers  may  be  exercised  by  the  directors  if  they  are  of  the  view  that  any  license, 
consent,  permit or privilege of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that enables it to operate  an air service 
may be refused, withheld, suspended or revoked or have conditions attached to it that inhibit its exercise and the 
exercise of the powers referred to above could prevent such an occurrence. The exercise of such powers could 
result in non-EU holders of shares being prevented from attending, speaking at or voting at general meetings of 
the Company and/or being required to dispose of shares held by them to EU nationals.  

Disclosure  of  Share  Ownership.  Under  Irish  law,  the  Company  can  require  parties  to  disclose  their 
interests in shares. The Articles of the Company entitle the directors to require parties to complete declarations 

114 

 
 
indicating their nationality and the nature and extent of any interest which such parties hold in Ordinary Shares 
before allowing such parties to transfer such Ordinary Shares. See, also ―—Limitations on Share Ownership by 
non-EU nationals‖ below. Under Irish law, if a party acquires or disposes of Ordinary Shares so as to bring his 
interest above or below 5% of the  total issued  share  capital of the  Company,  he  must notify the Company of 
that.  The  Irish  Stock  Exchange  must  also  be  notified  of  any  acquisition  or  disposal  of  shares  that  brings  the 
shareholding of a party above or below certain specified percentages – i.e., 10%, 25%, 50% and 70%. 

Other Provisions of the Articles of Association. There are no provisions in the Articles: 

(i)  delaying  or  prohibiting  a  change  in  the  control  of  the  Company,  but  which  operate  only  with 

respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring; 

(ii)  discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of shares as a result of such shareholder 

owning a substantial number of shares; or 

(iii) governing changes in capital, 

in each case, where such provisions are more stringent than those required by law. 

MATERIAL CONTRACTS 

In February 2005, the Company and Boeing entered into a series of agreements for the purchase by the 
Company of new Boeing 737-800 aircraft for delivery during the period from April 2008 through March 2013, 
as well as for options to purchase additional aircraft. See ―Item 4. Information on the Company—Aircraft‖ and 
―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources‖  for  a  detailed 
discussion of the 2005 Boeing contract. 

EXCHANGE CONTROLS  

Except  as  indicated  below,  there  are  no  restrictions  on  non-residents  of  Ireland  dealing  in  Irish 
securities  (including  shares  or  depositary  receipts  of  Irish  companies  such  as  the  Company).  Dividends  and 
redemption proceeds also continue to be freely transferable to non-resident holders of such securities.  

Under  the  Financial  Transfers  Act  1992  (the  ―1992  Act‖),  the  Minister  for  Finance  of  Ireland  may 
make provision for the restriction of financial transfers between Ireland and other countries. Financial  transfers 
are  broadly  defined,  and  the  acquisition  or  disposal  of  the  ADRs,  which  represent  shares  issued  by  an  Irish 
incorporated  company,  the  acquisition  or  the  disposal  of  Ordinary  Shares  and  associated  payments  may  fall 
within  this  definition.  Dividends  or  payments  on  the  redemption  or  purchase  of  shares  and  payments  on  the 
liquidation of an Irish-incorporated company would fall within this definition. 

The  1992  Act  prohibits  financial  transfers  involving  the  late  Slobodan  Milosevic  and  associated 
persons,  Belarus,  Burma  (Myanmar),  certain  persons  indicted  by  the  International  Criminal  Tribunal  for  the 
former Yugoslavia, Usama Bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda network and the Taliban of Afghanistan, the Democratic 
Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, the Republic of Guinea, the Democratic People‘s Republic of Korea (North 
Korea),  Iran,  Iraq,  Côte  d‘Ivoire,  Lebanon,  Liberia,  Libya,  Afghanistan,Tunisia,  Zimbabwe,    Sudan,  Somalia, 
Syria, certain known terrorists and terrorist groups, and countries that harbor certain terrorist groups, without the 
prior permission of the Central Bank of Ireland. 

Any  transfer  of,  or  payment  in  respect  of,  an  ADS  involving  the  government  of  any  country  that  is 
currently the subject of United Nations sanctions, any person or body controlled by any of the foregoing, or any 
person  acting  on  behalf  of  the  foregoing,  may  be  subject  to  restrictions  pursuant  to  such  sanctions  as 
implemented into Irish law. The Company does not anticipate that Irish exchange controls or orders under the 
1992 Act or United Nations sanctions implemented into Irish law will have a material effect on its business. 

LIMITATIONS ON SHARE OWNERSHIP BY NON-EU NATIONALS 

The Board of Directors of Ryanair Holdings is given certain powers under the Articles to take action to 
ensure that the number of Ordinary Shares held in Ryanair Holdings by non-EU nationals does not reach a level 
which  could  jeopardize  the  Company‘s  entitlement  to  continue  to  hold  or  enjoy  the  benefit  of  any  license, 
115 

 
 
permit, consent or privilege which it holds or enjoys and which enables it to carry on business as an air carrier (a 
―License‖). In particular, EU Regulation 2407/92 requires that, in order to obtain and retain an operating license, 
an EU air carrier must be majority-owned and effectively controlled by EU nationals. The regulation does not 
specify what level of share ownership will confer effective control on a holder or holders of shares. As described 
below, the directors will, from time to time, set a ―Permitted Maximum‖ on the number of Ordinary Shares that 
may  be  owned  by  non-EU  nationals  at  such  level  as  they  believe  will  comply  with  EU  law.  The  Permitted 
Maximum is currently set at 49.9%.  

Ryanair Holdings maintains a separate register (the ―Separate Register‖) of Ordinary Shares in which 
non-EU  nationals,  whether  individuals,  bodies  corporate  or  other  entities,  have  an  interest  (such  shares  are 
referred  to  as  ―Affected  Shares‖  in  the  Articles).  Interest  in  this  context  is  widely  defined  and  includes  any 
interest  held  through  ADRs  in  the  shares  underlying  the  relevant  ADRs.  The  directors  can  require  relevant 
parties to provide them  with  information to enable a determination to be  made by the directors as to  whether 
Ordinary Shares are, or are to be treated as, Affected Shares. If such information is not available or forthcoming 
or is unsatisfactory then the directors can, at their discretion, determine that Ordinary Shares are to be treated as 
Affected Shares. Registered holders of Ordinary Shares are also obliged to notify the Company if they are aware 
that any Ordinary Share which they hold ought to be treated as an Affected Share for this purpose. With regard 
to  ADRs,  the  directors  can  treat  all  of  the  relevant  underlying  shares  as  Affected  Shares  unless  satisfactory 
evidence as to why they should not be so treated is forthcoming.  

In the event that, inter alia, (i) the refusal, withholding, suspension or revocation of any License or the 
imposition  of  any  condition  which  materially  inhibits  the  exercise  of  any  License  (an  ―Intervening  Act‖)  has 
taken  place,  (ii)  the  Company  receives  a  notice  or  direction  from  any  governmental  body  or  any  other  body 
which  regulates  the  provision  of  air  transport  services  to  the  effect  that  an  Intervening  Act  is  imminent, 
threatened or intended or (iii) an Intervening Act may occur as a consequence of the level of non-EU ownership 
of Ordinary Shares or an Intervening Act is imminent,  threatened or intended because of the  manner of share 
ownership or control of Ryanair Holdings generally, the directors can take action pursuant to the Articles to deal 
with  the  situation.  They  can,  inter  alia,  (i)  remove  any  directors  or  change  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Directors,  (ii)  identify  those  Ordinary  Shares,  ADRs  or  Affected  Shares  which  give  rise  to  the  need  to  take 
action and treat such Ordinary Shares, ADRs, or Affected Shares as Restricted Shares (see below) or (iii) set a 
―Permitted Maximum‖ on the number of Affected Shares which may subsist at any time (which may not, save in 
the  circumstances  referred  to  below,  be  lower  than  40%  of  the  total  number  of  issued  shares)  and  treat  any 
Affected  Shares  (or  ADRs  representing  such  Affected  Shares)  in  excess  of  this  Permitted  Maximum  as 
Restricted Shares (see below).  

In addition to the above, if as a consequence of a change of law or a direction, notice or requirement of 
any state, authority or person it is necessary to reduce the total number of Affected Shares below 40% or reduce 
the number of Affected Shares held by any particular stockholder or stockholders in order to overcome, prevent 
or  avoid  an  Intervening  Act,  the  directors  may  resolve  to  (i)  set  the  Permitted  Maximum  at  such  level  below 
40% as they consider necessary in order to overcome, prevent or avoid such Intervening Act, or (ii) treat such 
number  of  Affected  Shares  (or  ADRs  representing  Affected  Shares)  held  by  any  particular  stockholder  or 
stockholders  as  they  consider  necessary  (which  could  include  all  of  such  Affected  Shares  or  ADRs)  as 
Restricted  Shares  (see  below).  The  directors  may  serve  a  Restricted  Share  Notice  in  respect  of  any  Affected 
Share, or any ADR representing any ADS, which is to be treated as a Restricted Share. Such notices can have 
the effect of depriving the recipients of the rights to attend, vote at and speak at general meetings, which they 
would  otherwise  have  as  a  consequence  of  holding  such  Ordinary  Shares  or  ADRs.  Such  notices  can  also 
require  the  recipients  to  dispose  of  the  Ordinary  Shares  or  ADRs  concerned  to  an  EU  national  (so  that  the 
relevant shares (or shares underlying the relevant ADRs) will then cease to be Affected Shares) within 21 days 
or such longer period as the  directors  may determine. The directors are also  given the  power to transfer such 
Restricted Shares, themselves, in cases of non-compliance with the Restricted Share Notice.  

To  enable  the  directors  to  identify  Affected  Shares,  transferees  of  Ordinary  Shares  are  generally 
required to provide a declaration as to the nationality of persons having interests  in those shares. Stockholders 
are  also  obliged  to  notify  Ryanair  Holdings  if  they  are  aware  that  any  shares,  which  they  hold,  ought  to  be 
treated as Affected Shares for this purpose. Purchasers or transferees of ADRs need not complete a nationality 
declaration because the directors expect to treat all of the Ordinary Shares held by the Depositary as Affected 
Shares. ADS holders must open ADR accounts directly with the Depositary if they wish to provide to Ryanair 
Holdings nationality declarations or such other evidence as the directors may require in order to establish to the 
directors‘ satisfaction that the Ordinary Shares underlying such holder‘s ADRs are not Affected Shares. 

116 

 
 
In deciding which Affected Shares are to be selected as Restricted Shares, the directors can take into 
account which Affected Shares have given rise to the necessity to take action. Subject to that they will, insofar 
as practicable, firstly view as Restricted Shares those Affected Shares in respect of which no declaration as to 
whether  or  not  such  shares  are  Affected  Shares  has  been  made  by  the  holder  thereof  and  where  information 
which has been requested by the directors in accordance with the Articles has not been provided within specified 
time periods and, secondly, have regard to the chronological order in which details of Affected Shares have been 
entered  in  the  Separate  Register  and,  accordingly,  treat  the  most  recently  registered  Affected  Shares  as 
Restricted  Shares  to  the  extent  necessary.  Transfers  of  Affected  Shares  to  Affiliates  (as  that  expression  is 
defined in the Articles) will not affect the chronological order of entry in the Separate Register for this purpose. 
The  directors do however  have  the  discretion to apply another basis of selection  if,  in  their sole opinion, that 
would  be  more  equitable.  Where  the  directors  have  resolved  to  treat  Affected  Shares  held  by  any  particular 
stockholder or stockholders as Restricted Shares (i) because such Affected Shares have given rise to the need to 
take  such  action  or  (ii)  because  of  a  change  of  law  or  a  requirement  or  direction  of  a  regulatory  authority 
necessitating such action (see above), such powers may be exercised irrespective of the date upon which such 
Affected Shares were entered in the Separate Register. 

After having initially resolved to set the maximum level at 49.0%, the directors increased the maximum 
level to 49.9% on May 26, 1999, after the number of Affected Shares exceeded the initial limit. This maximum 
level could be reduced if it becomes necessary for the directors to exercise these powers in the circumstances 
described above. The decision to make any such reduction or to change the Permitted Maximum from time to 
time  will be published in at least one national newspaper in Ireland and in any country in which the Ordinary 
Shares or ADRs are listed. The relevant notice will specify the provisions of the Articles that apply to Restricted 
Shares and the name of the person or persons who will answer queries relating to Restricted Shares on behalf of 
Ryanair  Holdings.  The  directors  shall  publish  information  as  to  the  number  of  shares  held  by  EU  nationals 
annually. 

In  an  effort  to  increase  the  percentage  of  its  share  capital  held  by  EU  nationals,  on  June  26,  2001, 
Ryanair Holdings instructed the Depositary to suspend the issuance of new ADSs in exchange for the deposit of 
Ordinary  Shares  until  further  notice  to  its  shareholders.  Holders  of  Ordinary  Shares  cannot  convert  their 
Ordinary Shares into ADRs during such suspension, and there can be no assurance that the suspension will ever 
be lifted.  

As a further measure to increase the percentage of Ordinary Shares held by EU nationals, on February 
7, 2002, the  Company issued a notice to shareholders to the effect that any purchase of Ordinary Shares by a 
non-EU national after such date will immediately result in the issue of a Restricted Share Notice to such non-EU 
national  Purchaser.  The  Restricted  Share  Notice  compels  the  non-EU  national  purchaser  to  sell  the  Affected 
Shares  to  an  EU  national  within  21  days  of  the  date  of  issuance.  In  the  event  that  any  such  non-EU  national 
shareholder does not sell its Ordinary Shares to an EU national within the specified time period, the Company 
can  then  take  legal  action  to  compel  such  a  sale.  As  a  result,  non-EU  nationals  are  effectively  barred  from 
purchasing  Ordinary  Shares  for  as  long  as  these  restrictions  remain  in  place.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that 
these restrictions will ever be lifted. 

As  an  additional  measure,  to  ensure  the  percentage  of  shares  held  by  EU  nationals  remains  at  least 
50.1%, at the extraordinary general  meeting held on April  19, 2012, the  Company obtained a new repurchase 
authority which  will enable the repurchase of ADRs for up to 5% of the issued share capital of the Company 
traded on the NASDAQ. 

Concerns  about  the  foreign  ownership  restrictions  described  above  could  result  in  the  exclusion  of 
Ryanair  from certain stock  tracking indices.  Any such exclusion  may adversely affect the  market price  of the 
Ordinary  Shares  and  ADRs.  See  also  ―Item  3.  Risk  Factors––Risks  Related  to  Ownership  of  the  Company‘s 
Shares or  ADRs—EU  Rules  Impose Restrictions on the Ownership of Ryanair Holdings‘  Ordinary Shares by 
Non-EU  Nationals  and  the  Company  has  Instituted  a  Ban  on  the  Purchase  of  Ordinary  Shares  by  Non-EU 
Nationals‖ above. 

As  of  June  30,  2012,  EU  nationals  owned  at  least  54.2%  of  Ryanair  Holdings‘  Ordinary  Shares 
(assuming  conversion  of  all  outstanding  ADRs  into  Ordinary  Shares).  Ryanair  continuously  monitors  the 
ownership status of its Ordinary Shares, which changes on a daily basis. 

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Irish Tax Considerations 

TAXATION 

The  following  is  a  discussion  of  certain  Irish  tax  consequences  of  the  purchase,  ownership  and 
disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs. This discussion is based upon tax laws and  practice of Ireland at the 
date of this document, which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Particular rules may apply 
to certain classes of taxpayers (such as dealers in securities) and this discussion does not purport to deal with the 
tax consequences of purchase, ownership or disposition of the relevant securities for all categories of investors. 

The discussion is intended only as a general guide based on current Irish law and practice and is not 
intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular investor or stockholder. 
Accordingly,  current  stockholders  or  potential  investors  should  satisfy  themselves  as  to  the  overall  tax 
consequences by consulting their own tax advisers.  

Dividends. If Ryanair Holdings pays dividends or makes other relevant distributions, the following is 

relevant:  

Withholding Tax. Unless exempted, a withholding at the standard rate of income tax (currently 20%) 
will apply to dividends or other relevant distributions paid by an Irish resident company. The withholding tax 
requirement  will  not  apply  to  distributions  paid  to  certain  categories  of  Irish  resident  stockholders  or  to 
distributions paid to certain categories of non-resident stockholders.  

The following Irish resident stockholders are exempt from withholding if they make to the Company, 

in advance of payment of any relevant distribution, an appropriate declaration of entitlement to exemption:  

Irish resident companies;  

Pension schemes approved by the Irish Revenue Commissioners (―Irish Revenue‖);  

Qualifying fund managers or qualifying savings managers; 

Personal Retirement Savings Account (―PRSA‖) administrators who receive the relevant distribution as 

income arising in respect of PRSA assets; 

Qualifying employee share ownership trusts;  

Collective investment undertakings;  

Tax-exempt charities; 

Designated brokers receiving the distribution for special portfolio investment accounts; 

Any person who is entitled to exemption from income tax under Schedule F on dividends in respect of 
an  investment  in  whole  or  in  part  of  payments  received  in  respect  of  a  civil  action  or  from  the 
Personal Injuries Assessment Board for damages in respect of mental or physical infirmity; 

Certain  qualifying  trusts  established  for  the  benefit  of  an  incapacitated  individual  and/or  persons  in 

receipt of income from such a qualifying trust; 

Any person entitled to exemption to income tax  under Schedule F by  virtue  of Section 192(2) Taxes 

Consolidation Act (―TCA‖) 1997;  

Unit trusts to which Section 731(5)(a) TCA 1997 applies; and 

Certain Irish Revenue-approved amateur and athletic sport bodies. 

The following non-resident stockholders are exempt from withholding if they make to the Company, in 

advance of payment of any dividend, an appropriate declaration of entitlement to exemption:  

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Persons (other than a company) who (i) are neither resident nor ordinarily resident in Ireland and (ii) 
are  resident  for  tax  purposes  in  (a)  a  country  which  has  signed  a  tax  treaty  with  Ireland  (a  ―tax 
treaty country‖) or (b) an EU member state other than Ireland; 

Companies not resident in Ireland which are resident in an EU member state or a tax treaty country, by 
virtue of the law of an EU member state or a tax treaty country and are not controlled, directly or 
indirectly, by Irish residents; 

Companies  not  resident  in  Ireland  which  are  directly  or  indirectly  controlled  by  a  person  or  persons 
who  are,  by  virtue  of  the  law  of  a  tax  treaty  country  or  an  EU  member  state,  resident  for  tax 
purposes  in  a  tax  treaty  country  or  an  EU  member  state  other  than  Ireland  and  which  are  not 
controlled  directly  or  indirectly  by  persons  who  are  not  resident  for  tax  purposes  in  a  tax  treaty 
country or EU member state;  

Companies not resident in Ireland the principal class of shares of which is substantially and regularly 
traded  on  a  recognized  stock  exchange  in  a  tax  treaty  country  or  an  EU  member  state  including 
Ireland or on an approved stock exchange; or 

Companies not resident in Ireland that are 75% subsidiaries of a single company, or are wholly-owned 
by  two  or  more  companies,  in  either  case  the  principal  classes  of  shares  of  which  is  or  are 
substantially and regularly traded on a recognized stock exchange in a tax treaty country or an EU 
member state including Ireland or on an approved stock exchange. 

In  the  case  of  an  individual  non-resident  stockholder  resident  in  an  EU  member  state  or  tax  treaty 
country, the declaration must be accompanied by a current certificate of tax residence from the tax authorities in 
the stockholder‘s country of residence. In the case of both an individual and corporate non-resident stockholder 
resident in an EU  member state  or tax treaty country the  declaration also  must contain an  undertaking by the 
non-resident or non-ordinarily resident person that he, she or it will advise the relevant person accordingly if he, 
she or it ceases to be a non-resident or non-ordinary resident. No declaration is required if the stockholder is a 
5%  parent  company  in  another  EU  member  state  pursuant  to  the  EC  Parent-Subsidiary  Directive  (Council 
Directive No. 90/435/EEC). Neither is a declaration required on the payment by a company resident in Ireland 
to another company so resident if the company making the dividend is a 51% subsidiary of that other company. 

American  Depositary  Receipts.  Special  arrangements  with  regard  to  the  dividend  withholding  tax 
obligation  apply  in  the  case  of  Irish  companies  using  ADRs  through  U.S.  depositary  banks  that  have  been 
authorized by the Irish Revenue. Such banks, which receive dividends from the company  and pass them on to 
the U.S. ADS holders beneficially entitled to such dividends, will be allowed to receive and pass on the gross 
dividends (i.e., before withholding) based on an ―address system‖ where the recorded addresses of such holder, 
as listed in the depositary bank‘s register of depositary receipts, is in the United States.  

Taxation on Dividends. Companies resident in Ireland other than those taxable on receipt of dividends 
as trading income are exempt from corporation tax on distributions received on Ordinary Shares from other Irish 
resident  companies.  Stockholders  that  are  ―close‖  companies  for  Irish  taxation  purposes  may,  however,  be 
subject to a 20% corporation tax surcharge on undistributed investment income. 

Individual stockholders who are resident or ordinarily resident in Ireland are subject to income tax on 
the  gross  dividend  at  their  marginal  tax  rate,  but  are  entitled  to  a  credit  for  the  tax  withheld  by  the  company 
paying  the  dividend.  The  dividend  will  also  be  subject  to  the  new  universal  social  charge.    An  individual 
stockholder  who  is  not  liable  or  not  fully  liable  for  income  tax  by  reason  of  exemption  or  otherwise  may  be 
entitled to receive an appropriate refund of tax withheld. A charge to Irish social security taxes/levies can also 
arise for such individuals on the amount of any dividend received from the Company.  

Except in certain circumstances, a person who is neither resident nor ordinarily resident in Ireland and 
is entitled to receive dividends without deductions is not liable for Irish tax on the dividends. Where a person 
who is neither resident nor ordinarily resident in Ireland is subject to withholding tax on the dividend received 
due to not benefiting from any exemption from such withholding, the amount of that withholding will generally 
satisfy such person‘s liability for Irish tax.  

119 

 
 
Capital Gains Tax.  A person who is either resident or ordinarily resident in Ireland will generally be 
liable  for  Irish  capital  gains  tax  on  any  gain  realized  on  the  disposal  of  the  Ordinary  Shares  or  ADSs.  The 
current capital gains tax rate is 30%. A person who is neither resident nor ordinarily resident in Ireland and who 
does not carry on a trade in Ireland through a branch or agency will not be subject to Irish capital gains tax on 
the disposal of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs.  

Irish Capital Acquisitions Tax. A gift or inheritance of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be within the 
charge  to  Irish  Capital  Acquisitions  Tax  (―CAT‖)  notwithstanding  that  the  disposer  (e.g.,  a  donor)  or  the 
donee/successor  in  relation  to  such  gift  or  inheritance  is  resident  outside  Ireland.  CAT  is  charged  at  a  rate  of 
30% above a tax-free threshold. This tax-free threshold is determined by the amount of the current benefit and 
of previous benefits taken since December 5, 1991, as relevant, within the charge to CAT and the relationship 
between  the  donor  and  the  successor  or  donee.  Gifts  and  inheritances  between  spouses  (and  in  certain  cases 
former spouses) are not subject to CAT. 

In a case where an inheritance or gift of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs is subject to both Irish CAT and 
foreign tax of a similar character, the foreign tax paid may in certain circumstances be credited in whole or in 
part against the Irish tax. 

Irish  Stamp  Duty.  It  is  assumed  for  the  purposes  of  this  paragraph  that  ADSs  are  dealt  in  on  a 
recognized stock exchange in the United States (NASDAQ is a recognized stock exchange in the United States 
for this purpose). Under current Irish law, no stamp duty will be payable on the acquisition of ADSs by persons 
purchasing  such  ADSs  or  on  any  subsequent  transfer  of  ADSs.  A  transfer  of  Ordinary  Shares  (including 
transfers  effected  through  Euroclear  U.K.  &  Ireland  Limited)  wherever  executed  and  whether  on  sale,  in 
contemplation of a sale or by way of a gift, will be subject to duty at the rate of 1% of the consideration given 
or,  in  the  case  of  a  gift  or  if  the  purchase  price  is  inadequate  or  unascertainable,  on  the  market  value  of  the 
Ordinary Shares. Transfers of Ordinary Shares that are not liable for duty at the rate of 1% (e.g., transfers under 
which there is no change in beneficial ownership) may be subject to a fixed duty of €12.50. 

The Irish Revenue treats a conversion of Ordinary Shares to ADSs made in contemplation of a sale or a 
change in beneficial ownership (under Irish law) as an event subject to stamp duty at a  rate  of 1%. The Irish 
Revenue has indicated that a re-conversion of ADSs to Ordinary Shares made in contemplation of a sale or a 
change in beneficial ownership (under Irish law) will not be subject to a stamp duty. However, the subsequent 
sale of the re-converted Ordinary Shares will give rise to Irish stamp duty at the 1% rate. If the transfer of the 
Ordinary Shares is a transfer under which there is no change in the beneficial ownership (under Irish law) of the 
Ordinary Shares being transferred, nominal stamp duty only will be payable on the transfer. Under Irish law, it 
is  not  clear  whether  the  mere  deposit  of  Ordinary  Shares  for  ADSs  or  ADSs  for  Ordinary  Shares  would  be 
deemed to constitute a change in beneficial ownership. Accordingly, it is possible that holders would be subject 
to stamp duty at the 1% rate when merely depositing Ordinary Shares for ADSs or ADSs for Ordinary Shares 
and, consequently, the Depositary reserves the right in such circumstances to require payment of stamp duty at 
the rate of 1% from the holders. 

The person accountable for payment of stamp duty is the transferee or, in the case of a transfer by way 
of  a  gift  or  for  a  consideration  less  than  the  market  value,  all  parties  to  the  transfer.  Stamp  duty  is  normally 
payable within 30 days after the date of execution of the transfer. Late or inadequate payment of stamp duty will 
result in liability for interest, penalties and fines. 

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations 

Except  as  described  below  under  the  heading  ―Non-U.S.  Holders,‖  the  following  is  a  summary  of 
certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of Ordinary 
Shares  or  ADRs  by  a  holder  that  is  a  citizen  or  resident  of  the  United  States,  a  U.S.  domestic  corporation  or 
otherwise  subject  to  U.S.  federal  income  tax  on  a  net  income  basis  in  respect  of  the  Ordinary  Shares  or  the 
ADRs  (―U.S.  Holders‖).  This  summary  does  not  purport  to  be  a  comprehensive  description  of  all  of  the  tax 
considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase the Ordinary Shares or the ADRs. In particular, the 
summary deals only with U.S. Holders that will hold Ordinary Shares or ADRs as capital assets and generally 
does  not  address  the  tax  treatment  of  U.S.  Holders  that  may  be  subject  to  special  tax  rules  such  as  banks, 
insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies,  partnerships or partners therein, entities subject to the 
branch profits tax, traders in securities electing to mark to market, persons that own 10% or more of the stock of 
the Company, U.S. Holders whose ―functional currency‖ is not U.S. dollars or persons that hold the Ordinary 

120 

 
 
Shares  or  the  ADRs  as  part  of  an  integrated  investment  (including  a  ―straddle‖)  consisting  of  the  Ordinary 
Shares or the ADRs and one or more other positions. 

Holders  of  the  Ordinary  Shares  or  the  ADRs  should  consult  their  own  tax  advisors  as  to  the  U.S.  or 
other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the Ordinary Shares or the ADRs in light 
of their particular circumstances, including, in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local tax laws.  

For  U.S.  federal  income  tax  purposes,  holders  of  the  ADRs  will  be  treated  as  the  owners  of  the 

Ordinary Shares represented by those ADRs.  

Taxation of Dividends 

U.S. Holders 

Dividends, if any, paid with respect to the Ordinary Shares, including Ordinary Shares represented by 
ADRs, will be included in the gross income of a U.S. Holder when the dividends are received by the holder or 
the  Depositary.  Such  dividends  will  not  be  eligible  for  the  ―dividends  received‖  deduction  allowed  to  U.S. 
corporations in respect of dividends from a domestic corporation. Dividends paid in euro will be includible in 
the income of a U.S. Holder in a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the 
day  they  are  received  by  the  holder  or  the  Depositary.  U.S.  Holders  generally  should  not  be  required  to 
recognize  any  foreign currency  gain or loss to the extent such dividends paid  in euro are converted into U.S. 
dollars immediately upon receipt.  

Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the U.S. dollar amount of dividends 
received by an individual prior to January 1, 2013 with respect to the Ordinary Shares or ADRs will be subject 
to taxation at a maximum rate of 15% if the dividends are ―qualified dividends.‖ Dividends paid on the Ordinary 
Shares  or  ADRs  will  be  treated  as  qualified  dividends  if  (i)  the  issuer  is  eligible  for  the  benefits  of  a 
comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the Internal Revenue Service has approved for the 
purposes of the qualified dividend rules and (ii) the Company was not, in the year prior to the year in which the 
dividend was paid, and is not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (a 
―PFIC‖). The income tax treaty between Ireland and the United States has been approved for the purposes of the 
qualified  dividend  rules.  Based  on  the  Company‘s  audited  financial  statements  and  relevant  market  data,  the 
Company  believes  that  it  was  not  treated  as  a  PFIC  for  U.S.  federal  income  tax  purposes  with  respect  to  its 
2011/12  taxable  year.  In  addition,  based  on  the  Company‘s  audited  financial  statements  and  its  current 
expectations  regarding  the  value  and  nature  of  its  assets,  the  sources  and  nature  of  its  income,  and  relevant 
market data, the Company does not anticipate becoming a PFIC for its 2012/13 taxable year. 

Under the U.S.-Ireland Income Tax Treaty currently in effect, in the event the Company were to pay 
any  dividend,  the  tax  credit  attaching  to  the  dividend  (as  used  herein  the  ―Tax  Credit‖;  see  ―—Irish  Tax 
Considerations‖) generally will be treated as a foreign income tax eligible for credit against such U.S. Holder‘s 
United States federal income tax liability, subject to generally applicable limitations and conditions. Any such 
dividend  paid  by  the  Company  to  such  U.S.  Holder  will  constitute  income  from  sources  outside  the  United 
States for foreign tax credit purposes, and generally will constitute ―passive category‖ income for such purposes. 

Foreign tax credits may not be allowed for withholding taxes imposed in respect of certain short-term 

or hedged positions in securities. 

U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the implications of these rules in light of 

their particular circumstances.  

Distributions  of  Ordinary  Shares  that  are  made  as  part  of  a  pro  rata  distribution  to  all  stockholders 

generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.  

Taxation of Capital Gains 

Sale or Disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADRs. Gains or losses realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale 
or other disposition of ADRs generally will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as capital gains or 
losses, which generally will be long-term capital gains or losses if the ADRs have been held for more than one 
year.  The  net  amount  of  long-term  capital  gain  recognized  by  an  individual  holder  before  January  1,  2013 

121 

 
 
generally  is  subject  to  taxation  at  a  maximum  rate  of  15%.  The  deductibility  of  capital  losses  is  subject  to 
limitations.  

Deposits and withdrawals of Ordinary Shares by U.S. Holders in exchange for ADRs will not result in 

the realization of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  

Non-U.S. Holders.  A holder of Ordinary  Shares or ADRs that is,  with respect  to the United States, a 
foreign corporation or a nonresident alien individual (a ―Non-U.S. Holder‖) generally will not be subject to U.S. 
federal income or withholding tax on dividends received on such Ordinary Shares or ADRs unless such income 
is effectively connected with the conduct by such holder of a trade or business in the United States. A Non-U.S. 
Holder of ADRs or Ordinary Shares will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax in respect 
of gain realized on the sale or other disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADRs, unless (i) such gain is effectively 
connected with the conduct by such holder of a trade or business in the United States or (ii) in the case  of gain 
realized by an individual Non-U.S. Holder, such Non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for 183 days or 
more in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions are met. 

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY 

Copies of Ryanair Holdings‘  Articles  may be examined at its registered office  and principal place of 

business at its Corporate Head Office, Dublin Airport, County Dublin, Ireland. 

Ryanair Holdings also files reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, periodic reports on Form 6-
K and other information,  with the SEC pursuant to the rules and regulations of the  SEC that apply to foreign 
private issuers. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F 
Street,  N.E.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549.  You  may  obtain  information  on  the  operation  of  the  Public  Reference 
Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

GENERAL 

Ryanair  is  exposed  to  market  risks  relating  to  fluctuations  in  commodity  prices,  interest  rates  and 
currency  exchange  rates.  The  objective  of  financial  risk  management  at  Ryanair  is  to  minimize  the  negative 
impact of commodity price, interest rate and foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the Company‘s earnings, cash 
flows and equity. 

To manage these risks, Ryanair uses various derivative financial instruments, including cross currency 
interest  rate  swaps,  foreign  currency  forward  contracts  and  commodity  forwards.  These  derivative  financial 
instruments  are  generally  held  to  maturity  and  are  not  actively  traded.  The  Company  enters  into  these 
arrangements with the goal of hedging its operational and balance sheet risk. However, Ryanair‘s exposure to 
commodity price, interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations cannot be neutralized completely. 

In  executing  its  risk  management  strategy,  Ryanair  currently  enters  into  forward  contracts  for  the 
purchase  of  some  of  the  jet  fuel  (jet  kerosene)  that  it  expects  to  use.  It  also  uses  foreign  currency  forward 
contracts  intended  to  reduce  its  exposure  to  risks  related  to  foreign  currencies,  principally  the  U.S.  dollar. 
Furthermore,  it  enters  into  interest  rate  contracts  with  the  objective  of  fixing  certain  borrowing  costs  and 
hedging principal repayments, particularly those associated with the purchase of new Boeing 737-800s. Ryanair 
is also exposed to the risk that the counterparties to its derivative financial instruments may not be creditworthy. 
Were  a  counterparty  to  default  on  its  obligations  under  any  of  the  instruments  described  below,  Ryanair‘s 
economic expectations when entering into these arrangements might not be achieved and its financial condition 
could be adversely affected. Transactions involving derivative financial instruments are also relatively illiquid 
as compared  with those involving other kinds of  financial instruments. It is Ryanair‘s policy not to enter into 
transactions involving financial derivatives for speculative purposes. 

The  following  paragraphs  describe  Ryanair‘s  fuel  hedging,  foreign  currency  and  interest  rate  swap 
arrangements  and  analyze  the  sensitivity  of  the  market  value,  earnings  and  cash  flows  of  the  financial 
instruments to hypothetical changes in commodity prices, interest rates and exchange rates as if these changes 
had occurred at March 31, 2012. The range of changes selected for this sensitivity analysis reflects Ryanair‘s 
view of the changes that are reasonably possible over a one-year period. 

122 

 
 
FUEL PRICE EXPOSURE AND HEDGING 

Fuel costs constitute a substantial portion of Ryanair‘s operating expenses (approximately 43.0% and 
39.1%  of  such  expenses  in  fiscal  years  2012  and  2011,  respectively,  after  taking  into  account  Ryanair‘s  fuel 
hedging  activities).  Ryanair  engages  in  fuel  price  hedging  transactions  from  time  to  time,  pursuant  to  which 
Ryanair and a counterparty agree to exchange payments equal to the difference between a fixed price for a given 
quantity of jet fuel and the market price for such quantity of jet fuel at a given date in the future, with Ryanair 
receiving the amount of any excess of such market price over such fixed price and paying to the counterparty the 
amount of any deficit of such fixed price under such market price. 

Ryanair  has  historically  entered  into  arrangements  providing  for  substantial  protection  against 
fluctuations  in  fuel  prices,  generally  through  forward  contracts  covering  periods  of  up  to  18  months  of 
anticipated  jet  fuel  requirements.  Ryanair  (like  many  other  airlines)  has,  in  more  recent  periods,  entered  into 
hedging  arrangements  on  a  much  more  selective  basis.  See  ―Item  3.  Key  Information—Risk  Factors—Risks 
Related  to  the  Company—Changes  in  Fuel  Costs  and  Fuel  Availability  Affect  the  Company‘s  Results  and 
Increases  the  Likelihood  that  the  Company  May  Incur  Losses‖  and  ―Item  11.  Quantitative  and  Qualitative 
Disclosures  About  Market  Risks—Fuel  Price  Exposure  and  Hedging‖  for  additional  information  on  recent 
trends in  fuel costs and the Company‘s related hedging activities, as  well as certain associated risks. See also 
―Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Fiscal Year 2012 Compared with Fiscal Year 2011—
Fuel and Oil.‖ As of July 27, 2012, Ryanair had entered into forward jet fuel (jet kerosene) contracts covering 
approximately 90% of its estimated requirements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 at prices equivalent 
to approximately $1,000 per metric ton. In addition, as of July 27, 2012, Ryanair had entered into forward jet 
fuel (jet kerosene) contracts covering approximately  50% of its estimated requirements for the first  half of the 
fiscal  year  ending  March  31,  2014  at  prices  equivalent  to  approximately  $935  per  metric  ton,  and  had  not 
entered into any jet fuel hedging contracts with respect to its expected fuel purchases beyond that period. 

While these hedging strategies can cushion the impact on Ryanair of fuel price increases in the short 
term, in the medium to longer-term, such strategies cannot be expected to eliminate the impact on the Company 
of an increase in the market price of jet fuel. The unrealized gains on outstanding forward agreements at March 
31, 2012 and 2011, based on their fair values, amounted to €145.8  million and €383.8 million (gross of tax), 
respectively. Based on Ryanair‘s fuel consumption for the  2012 fiscal  year, a change of $1.00 in the average 
annual price per metric ton of jet fuel would have caused a change of approximately €1.7 million in Ryanair‘s 
fuel  costs.  See  ―Item  3.  Key  Information—Risk  Factors—Risks  Related  to  the  Company—Changes  in  Fuel 
Costs and Fuel Availability Affect the Company‘s Results and Increase the Likelihood that the Company May 
Incur Losses.‖  

Under  IFRS,  the  Company‘s  fuel  forward  contracts  are  treated  as  cash-flow  hedges  of  forecast  fuel 
purchases  for  risks  arising  from  the  commodity  price  of  fuel.  The  contracts  are  recorded  at  fair  value  in  the 
balance  sheet  and  are  re-measured  to  fair  value  at  the  end  of  each  fiscal  period  through  equity  to  the  extent 
effective, with any ineffectiveness recorded through the income statement. The Company has considered these 
hedges to be highly effective in offsetting variability in future cash flows arising from fluctuations in the market 
price of jet fuel because the jet fuel forward contracts typically relate to the same quantity, time, and location of 
delivery  as  the  forecast  jet  fuel  purchase  being  hedged  and  the  duration  of  the  contracts  is  typically  short. 
Accordingly, the quantification of the change in expected cash flows of the forecast jet fuel purchase is based on 
the jet fuel forward price, and in the 2012 fiscal  year, the  Company recorded no hedge ineffectiveness  within 
earnings. The Company has recorded no level of ineffectiveness on its jet fuel hedges in its income statements to 
date. In the 2012 fiscal year, the Company recorded a positive fair-value adjustment of €127.6 million (net of 
tax) within accumulated other comprehensive income in respect of jet fuel forward contracts, and in the 2011 
fiscal  year,  the  Company  recorded  a  positive  fair-value  adjustment  of  €335.8  million  (net  of  tax)  within 
accumulated other comprehensive income. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXPOSURE AND HEDGING 

In recent years, Ryanair‘s revenues have been denominated primarily in two currencies, the euro and 
U.K.  pound  sterling.  The  U.K.  pound  sterling  and  the  euro  accounted  for  approximately  24%  and  65%, 
respectively, of Ryanair‘s total revenues in the 2012 fiscal year, as compared to approximately 24% and 67%, 
respectively, in the 2011 fiscal year. As Ryanair reports its results in euro, the Company is not exposed to any 
material currency risk as a result of its euro-denominated activities. Ryanair‘s operating expenses are primarily 
denominated in euro, U.K. pounds sterling and U.S. dollars. Ryanair‘s operations can be subject to significant 
direct  exchange  rate  risks  between  the  euro  and  the  U.S.  dollar  because  a  significant  portion  of  its  operating 
123 

 
 
costs  (particularly  those  related  to  fuel  purchases)  is  incurred  in  U.S.  dollars,  while  none  of  its  revenues  are 
denominated  in  U.S.  dollars.  Appreciation  of  the  euro  against  the  U.S.  dollar  positively  impacts  Ryanair‘s 
operating income because the euro equivalent of its U.S. dollar operating costs decreases, while depreciation of 
the  euro  against  the  U.S.  dollar  negatively  impacts  operating  income.  It  is  Ryanair‘s  policy  to  hedge  a 
significant  portion  of  its  exposure  to  fluctuations  in  the  exchange  rate  between  the  U.S.  dollar  and  the  euro. 
From  time  to  time,  Ryanair  hedges  its  operating  surpluses  and  shortfalls  in  U.K.  pound  sterling.  Ryanair 
matches certain U.K. pound sterling costs with U.K. pound sterling revenues and may choose to sell any surplus 
U.K. pound sterling cash flows for euro. 

Hedging associated with the income statement. In the 2012 and 2011 fiscal years, the Company entered 
into a series of forward contracts, principally euro/U.S. dollar forward contracts to hedge against variability in 
cash  flows  arising  from  market  fluctuations  in  foreign  exchange  rates  associated  with  its  forecast  fuel, 
maintenance and insurance costs and euro/U.K. pound sterling forward contracts to hedge certain surplus U.K. 
pound sterling cash flows. At March 31, 2012, the total  unrealized gain relating to these contracts amounted to 
€89.4 million, compared to a €75.7 million unrealized loss at March 31, 2011. 

Under IFRS, these foreign currency forward contracts are treated as cash-flow hedges of forecast U.S. 
dollar and U.K. pound sterling purchases to address the risks arising from U.S. dollar and U.K. pound sterling 
exchange rates. The derivatives are recorded at fair value in the balance sheet and are re-measured to fair value 
at the end of each reporting period through equity to the extent effective, with ineffectiveness recorded through 
the  income  statement.  Ryanair  considers  these  hedges  to  be  highly  effective  in  offsetting  variability  in  future 
cash flows arising from fluctuations in exchange rates, because the forward contracts are timed so as to match 
exactly  the  amount,  currency  and  maturity  date  of  the  forecast  foreign  currency-denominated  expense  being 
hedged. In the 2012 fiscal year, the Company recorded a positive fair-value adjustment of €86.1 million (net of 
tax)  within accumulated other comprehensive income in respect of these contracts, as compared to a negative 
adjustment of €75.7 million in the 2011 fiscal year.  

Hedging associated with the balance sheet. In the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years the Company entered into 
a series of cross currency interest rate swaps to manage exposures to  fluctuations in foreign exchange rates of 
US  dollar-denominated  floating  rate  borrowings  entered  into  during  the  2011  and  2012  fiscal  years,  together 
with  managing  the  exposures  to  fluctuations  in  interest  rates  on  these  US  dollar-denominated  floating  rate 
borrowings.  Cross  currency  interest  rate  swaps  are  primarily  used  to  convert  a  portion  of  the  Company‘s  US 
dollar-denominated debt to euro and floating rate interest exposures into fixed rate exposures and are set so as to 
match  exactly  the  critical  terms  of  the  underlying  debt  being  hedged  (i.e.  notional  principal,  interest  rate 
settings,  re-pricing  dates).  These  are  all  classified  as  cash-flow  hedges  of  the  forecasted  US  dollar  variable 
interest  payments  on  the  Company‘s  underlying  debt  and  have  been  determined  to  be  highly  effective  in 
achieving  offsetting  cash  flows.  Accordingly,  no  ineffectiveness  has  been  recorded  in  the  income  statement 
relating to these hedges in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years.  

At March 31, 2012, the fair value of the cross currency interest rate swap agreements relating to this 
US dollar-denominated floating rate debt was represented by a loss of €7.4 million (gross of tax) compared to a 
loss  of  €7.9  million  in  fiscal  2011.  In  the  2012  fiscal  year,  the  Company  recorded  a  negative  fair-value 
adjustment of €6.5 million (net of tax), compared to a loss of €6.9 million in fiscal 2011, within accumulated 
other comprehensive income in respect of these contracts.  

Hedging  associated  with  capital  expenditures.  During  the  2012  and  2011  fiscal  years,  the  Company 
also  entered  into  a  series  of  euro/U.S.  dollar  contracts  to  hedge  against  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  aircraft 
purchase  commitments  under  the  Boeing  contracts,  which  arise  from  fluctuations  in  the  U.K.  pound 
sterling/U.S. dollar and euro/U.S. dollar exchange rates. 

Under  IFRS,  the  Company  generally  accounts  for  these  contracts  as  either  cash-flow  hedges  or  fair-
value hedges. Fair-value hedges are recorded in the balance sheet at fair value. Any gains or losses arising on 
these  instruments,  as  well  as  the  related  gain  or  loss  on  the  underlying  aircraft  purchase  commitment,  are 
recorded  in  the  balance  sheet.  Any  related  ineffectiveness  is  measured  by  the  amount  by  which  these 
adjustments to earnings do not match. Cash-flow hedges are recorded at fair value in the balance sheet and are 
re-measured  to  fair  value  at  the  end  of  the  financial  period  through  equity  to  the  extent  effective,  with  any 
ineffectiveness  recorded  through  the  income  statement.  The  Company  expects  these  hedges  to  be  highly 
effective in offsetting changes in the fair value of the aircraft purchase commitments arising from fluctuations in 
exchange rates because the forward exchange contracts are always for the same amount, currency and maturity 
dates as the corresponding aircraft purchase commitments. 
124 

 
 
At  March  31,  2012,  the  total  unrealized  gains  relating  to  these  contracts  amounted  to  €6.8  million, 
while  at  March  31,  2011  unrealized  gains  amounted  to  €3.7  million.  Under  IFRS,  the  Company  recorded 
positive fair-value adjustments of €6.0 million and positive fair-value adjustments of €3.2 million for cash-flow 
hedges in the  2012 and 2011 fiscal  years, respectively. No amounts  were recorded for such  fair-value  hedges 
from other accumulated comprehensive income in the 2012 and 2011 fiscal years. 

Holding other variables constant, if there were an adverse change of 10% in relevant foreign currency 
exchange rates, the market value of Ryanair‘s foreign currency contracts outstanding at March 31, 2012 would 
decrease by approximately €176.3 million (net of tax), all of which would ultimately impact earnings when such 
contracts mature. 

INTEREST RATE EXPOSURE AND HEDGING 

The Company‘s purchase of 235 of the 294 Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the fleet as of March 31, 2012 
has been funded by bank financing in the form of loans supported by a loan guarantee from Ex-Im Bank (with 
respect to 199 aircraft), JOLCOs and commercial debt. With respect to these 235 aircraft, at March 31, 2012, the 
Company  had  outstanding  cumulative  borrowings  under  these  facilities  of  €3,625.2  million  with  a  weighted 
average  interest  rate  of  2.9%.  See  ―Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—Liquidity  and 
Capital  Resources—Capital  Resources‖  for  additional  information  on  these  facilities  and  the  related  swaps, 
including a tabular summary of the ―Effective Borrowing Profile‖ illustrating the effect of the swap transactions 
(each of  which is  with an established international financial counterparty) on the profile of Ryanair‘s aircraft-
related debt at March 31, 2012. At March 31, 2012, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements relating to 
this floating rate debt was represented by a loss of €80.3 million (gross of tax), as compared with a loss of €36.4 
million  at  March  31,  2011.  See  Note  11  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  included  in  Item  18  for 
additional information.  

The Company also enters into interest rate swaps to hedge against floating rental payments associated 
with  certain  aircraft  financed  through  operating  lease  arrangements.  Through  the  use  of  interest  rate  swaps, 
Ryanair has effectively converted the floating-rate rental payments due under 12 of these leases into fixed-rate 
payments. At March 31, 2012, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements relating to leases on a mark-to-
market basis was equivalent to approximately zero, as compared with a loss of €1.4 million at March 31, 2011. 
These financial instruments are, accordingly, recorded at fair value in the balance sheet and are subsequently re-
measured to fair value through equity to the extent effective, with ineffectiveness recorded through the income 
statement. The Company has recorded no material level of ineffectiveness on these swaps as they have the same 
critical terms as the underlying item being hedged. Under IFRS, the Company accounts for all of its swaps as 
cash-flow hedges of variable rental payments or variable rate debt payments. At March 31, 2012, the Company 
recorded a total fair-value adjustment of approximately nil relating to these arrangements, as compared with a 
€1.2 million negative fair-value adjustment at March 31, 2011. Losses will be realized within earnings over the 
period from the expected drawdown of the related financing (i.e., over a period of up to seven years from March 
31, 2012), with an increase in the related interest expense. 

If  Ryanair  had  not  entered  into  such  derivative  agreements,  a  plus  or  minus  one  percentage  point 
movement  in  interest  rates  would  impact  the  fair  value  of  this  liability  by  approximately  €36.2  million.  The 
earnings  and  cash-flow  impact  of  any  such  change  in  interest  rates  would  have  been  approximately  plus  or 
minus €13.1 million in the 2012 fiscal year. 

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities  

Holders of ADSs are required to pay certain fees and expenses. The table below sets forth the fees and 
expenses  which,  under  the  deposit  agreement  between  the  Company  and  The  Bank  of  New  York  Mellon, 
holders of ADRs can be charged or be deducted from dividends or other distributions on the deposited shares. 
The Company and The Bank of New York Mellon have also entered into a separate letter agreement, which the 
Company believes should have the effect of reducing some of the fees listed below. However, the Company and 
The Bank of New York Mellon have not yet reached final agreement on the exact application of such separate 
letter agreement to certain of the fees listed below, so it is possible that such fees may be assessed by The Bank 
of New York Mellon without any such reduction. 

125 

 
 
 
 
Persons depositing or withdrawing 
ADSs must pay: 
$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 
100 ADSs). 

  For: 
  Issuance  of  ADSs, 

including 
distribution of common shares or rights or other property. 

issuances  resulting  from  a 

   Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if 

the deposit agreement terminates. 

$0.02 (or less) per ADS. 

   Any cash distribution to the holder of the ADSs. 

$0.02 (or less) per ADS per calendar year. 

   Depositary services. 

A  fee  equivalent  to  the  fee  that  would  be 
the 
if  securities  distributed 
payable 
holder  of  ADSs  had  been  shares  and  the 
shares  had  been  deposited  for  issuance  of 
ADSs. 

to 

   Distribution  of  securities  distributed  by  the  issuer  to  the  holders 
of common securities, which are distributed by the depositary to 
ADS holders. 

Registration or transfer fees. 

   Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from 
the name of the depositary or its agent when the holder of ADSs 
deposits or withdraws common shares. 

Expenses of the depositary. 

Cable, 
telex  and  facsimile 
provided for in the deposit agreement). 

transmissions  (when  expressly 

    Expenses of the depositary in converting foreign currency to U.S. 

Dollars. 

Taxes  and  other  governmental  charges  the 
depositary  or  the  custodian  have  to  pay  on 
any  ADSs  or  common  shares  underlying 
ADSs  (for  example,  stock  transfer  taxes, 
stamp duty or withholding taxes). 

   As necessary. 

Any charges incurred by the depositary or 
its  agents  for  servicing  the  deposited 
securities. 

  As necessary. 

Reimbursement of Fees 

From April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 the Depositary collected annual depositary services fees equal to 

approximately $3.10 million from holders of ADSs, net of fees paid to the Depositary by the Company. 

126 

 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
    
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
     
 
 
 
 
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies 

PART II 

None. 

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds 

None. 

Item 15. Controls and Procedures  

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 

The Company has carried out an evaluation, as of March 31, 2012, under the supervision and with the 
participation of the Company‘s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of 
the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company‘s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in 
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of 
any  system  of  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  including  the  possibility  of  human  error  and  the 
circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and 
procedures  can  only  provide  reasonable  assurance  of  achieving  their  control  objectives.  Based  upon  the 
Company‘s evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of March 
31, 2012, the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information 
required  to  be  disclosed  in  the  reports  the  Company  files  or  submits  under  the  Exchange  Act  is  recorded, 
processed, summarized and reported as and when required, within the time periods specified in the applicable 
rules  and  forms,  and  that  it  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to  the  Company‘s  management,  including  the 
chief  executive  officer  and  chief  financial  officer,  as  appropriate  to  allow  timely  decisions  regarding  required 
disclosure. 

MANAGEMENT‟S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL 
REPORTING-  

The Company‘s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control 
over financial reporting, (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). The Company‘s 
internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements  for external purposes in accordance  with IFRS. 
The Company‘s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: 

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the 
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; 

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation 
of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with 
authorizations of management and directors; and 

provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized 
acquisition, use or disposition of the Company‘s assets that could have a material effect on the 
financial statements. 

The  Company‘s  management  evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company‘s  internal  control  over 
financial  reporting  as  of  March  31,  2012,  based  on  the  criteria  established  in  ―Internal  Control  —  Integrated 
Framework,‖  issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (―COSO‖). 
Based  on  the  evaluation,  management  has  concluded  that  the  Company  maintained  effective  internal  control 
over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012. 

127 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 

There has been no change in the Company‘s internal control over financial reporting during the 2012 
fiscal  year  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the  Company‘s  internal 
control over financial reporting. 

Item 16. Reserved 

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert 

The  Company‘s  Board  of  Directors  has  determined  that  Declan  McKeon  qualifies  as  an  ―audit 
committee financial expert‖ within the meaning of this Item 16A. Mr. McKeon is ―independent‖ for purposes of 
the listing rules of NASDAQ.  

Item 16B. Code of Ethics 

The Company has adopted a broad Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that meets the requirements 
for a ―code of ethics‖ as defined in Item 16B of Form 20-F. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to 
the  Company‘s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, controller and persons 
performing  similar  functions,  as  well  as  to  all  of  the  Company‘s  other  officers,  directors  and  employees.  The 
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on Ryanair‘s website at http://www.ryanair.com. (Information 
appearing on the website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.) The Company has not made 
any amendment to, or granted any waiver from, the provisions of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that 
apply  to  its  chief  executive  officer,  chief  financial  officer,  chief  accounting  officer,  controller  or  persons 
performing similar functions during its most recently completed fiscal year.  

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services 

Audit and Non-Audit Fees 

The following table sets forth the  fees billed or billable to the Company by its independent auditors, 

KPMG, during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:  

2012 

Year ended March 31, 
2011 
(millions) 

2010 

Audit fees ..................................................  
Tax fees .....................................................  
Total fees ...................................................  

€0.4 
€0.4 
€0.8 

€0.4 
€0.4 
€0.8 

€0.5 
€0.3 
€0.8 

Audit fees in the above table are the aggregate fees billed or billable by KPMG in connection with the 
audit of the Company‘s annual financial statements, as well as work that generally only the independent auditor 
can reasonably be expected to provide, including the provision of comfort letters, statutory audits, discussions 
surrounding  the  proper  application  of  financial  accounting  and  reporting  standards  and  services  provided  in 
connection with certain regulatory requirements including those under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

Tax fees include fees for all services, except those services specifically related to the audit of financial 
statements,  performed  by  the  independent  auditor‘s  tax  personnel,  work  performed  in  support  of  other  tax-
related regulatory requirements and tax compliance reporting. 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures 

The audit committee expressly pre-approves every engagement of Ryanair‘s independent auditors for 

all audit and non-audit services provided to the Company. 

128 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees 

None. 

Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers 

The following table details purchases by the Company of its Ordinary shares in the 2012 fiscal year. 

Month / Period 

April 1, 2011 to April 30, 2011 
May 1, 2011 to May 31, 2011 
June 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 
July 1, 2011 to July 31, 2011 
August 1, 2011 to August 31, 2011 
September 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 
 October 1, 2011 to October 31, 2011 
November 1, 2011 to November 30, 2011 
December 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 
January 1, 2012 to January 31, 2012 
February 1, 2012 to February 29, 2012 
March 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012 
Total (Year-end) ............  

Post Year-end(b) .............  

Total Number of 
Ordinary Shares 
Purchased (a) 

(Millions) 

_ 
– 
– 
– 
27.0 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
9.5 
36.5 

15.0 

Average Price 
Paid Per 
Ordinary Share 

(€) 

_ 
– 
– 
– 
3.12 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
4.11 
 3.38 

4.45 

(a)  The  Ordinary  Share  purchases  in  the  table  above  have  not  been  made  pursuant  to  publicly  announced  plans  or 
programs,  and  consist  of  open-market  transactions  conducted  within  defined  parameters  pursuant  to  the  Company‘s 
repurchase authority from shareholders granted via a special resolution. 

(b) On March 29, 2012, the Company agreed to buy-back 15.0 million Ordinary Shares at a cost of €67.5 million and 
the purchase settled in early April 2012.  This is equivalent to 1.0% of the issued share capital of the Company at March 
31, 2012. See Note 26 to our consolidated financial statements for further information.  

See ―Item 8. Financial Information—Other Information—Share Buy-Back Program‖ and ―Item 9. The 
Offer  and  Listing—Trading  Markets  and  Share  Prices‖  for  further  information  regarding  the  Company‘s 
Ordinary Share buy-back program, pursuant to which all of the shares purchased by the Company and disclosed 
in the table above were purchased. 

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certified Accountant 

Not applicable. 

Item 16G. Corporate Governance 

See ―Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Directors—Exemptions from NASDAQ 
Corporate  Governance  Rules‖  for  further  information  regarding  the  ways  in  which  the  Company‘s  corporate 
governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies listed on NASDAQ.  

129 

 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
PART III 

Item 17. Financial Statements 

Not applicable. 

Item 18. Financial Statements 

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

Consolidated Balance Sheets of Ryanair Holdings plc at March 31, 2012 ..............................  

Consolidated Income Statements of Ryanair Holdings plc for the year ended March 31, 
2012 .........................................................................................................................................  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income of Ryanair Holdings plc for the year 
ended March 31, 2012 .............................................................................................................  

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders‘ Equity of Ryanair Holdings plc for the 
year ended March 31, 2012 ......................................................................................................  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows of Ryanair Holdings plc for the year ended March 
31, 2012 ...................................................................................................................................  

Notes ........................................................................................................................................  

Company Balance Sheet of Ryanair Holdings plc at March 31,2012 ......................................  

Company Statement of Cash Flow of Ryanair Holdings plc for the year ended March 31, 
2012 .........................................................................................................................................  

Company Statement of Changes in Shareholders‘ Equity of Ryanair Holdings plc for the 
year ended March 31, 2012 ......................................................................................................  

Notes forming part of the Company Financial Statements .......................................................  

Directors and other Information ...............................................................................................  

Page 
131 

132 

133 

134 

136 

137 

186 

187 

188 

189 

192 

130 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 

At March 
31, 2012 
€M 

At March 
31, 2011 
€M 

At March 
31, 2010 
€M 

Note 

Non-current assets 

Property, plant and equipment .......................................................................  2 
Intangible assets .............................................................................................  3 
Available for sale financial assets ..................................................................  4 
Derivative financial instruments ....................................................................  5 
Total non-current assets ..................................................................................   

Current assets 

Inventories  ....................................................................................................  6 
Other assets  ...................................................................................................  7 
Current tax  ....................................................................................................  12 
Trade receivables ...........................................................................................  8 
Derivative financial instruments ....................................................................  5 
Restricted cash ...............................................................................................  9 
Financial assets: cash > 3 months ..................................................................   
Cash and cash equivalents .............................................................................   
Total current assets ..........................................................................................   
Total assets .......................................................................................................   

Current liabilities 

Trade payables ...............................................................................................   
Accrued expenses and other liabilities ...........................................................  10 
Current maturities of debt ..............................................................................  11 
Current tax  ....................................................................................................  12 
Derivative financial instruments ....................................................................  5 
Total current liabilities ....................................................................................   

Non-current liabilities 

Provisions ......................................................................................................  13 
Derivative financial instruments ....................................................................  5 
Deferred tax  ..................................................................................................  12 
Other creditors ...............................................................................................  14 
Non-current maturities of debt .......................................................................  11 
Total non-current liabilities ............................................................................   
Shareholders‟ equity 

Issued share capital ........................................................................................  15 
Share premium account..................................................................................  15 
Capital redemption reserve ............................................................................   
Retained earnings ...........................................................................................   
Other reserves ................................................................................................  16 
Shareholders‟ equity ........................................................................................   
Total liabilities and shareholders‟ equity .......................................................   

4,925.2 
46.8 
149.7 
3.3 
5,125.0 

2.8 
64.9 
9.3 
51.5 
231.9 
35.1 
772.2 
2,708.3 
3,876.0 
9,001.0 

181.2 
1,237.2 
368.4 
- 
28.2 
1,815.0 

103.2 
53.6 
319.4 
146.3 
3,256.8 
3,879.3 

9.3 
666.4 
0.7 
2,400.1 
230.2 
3,306.7 
9,001.0 

4,933.7 
46.8 
114.0 
23.9 
5,118.4 

2.7 
99.4 
0.5 
50.6 
383.8 
42.9 
869.4 
2,028.3 
3,477.6 
8,596.0 

150.8 
1,224.3 
336.7 
- 
125.4 
1,837.2 

89.6 
8.3 
267.7 
126.6 
3,312.7 
3,804.9 

9.5 
659.3 
0.5 
1,967.6 
317.0 
2,953.9 
8,596.0 

4,314.2 
46.8 
116.2 
22.8 
4,500.0 

2.5 
80.6 
- 
44.3 
122.6 
67.8 
1,267.7 
1,477.9 
3,063.4 
7,563.4 

154.0 
1,088.2 
265.5 
0.9 
41.0 
1,549.6 

102.9 
35.4 
199.6 
136.6 
2,690.7 
3,165.2 

9.4 
631.9 
0.5 
2,083.5 
123.3 
2,848.6 
7,563.4 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

On behalf of the Board 

M. O‘Leary 
Director  

D. Bonderman 
Director 

July 27, 2012 

131 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Income Statements 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Note 

Operating revenues 

Scheduled revenues........................................................................................  
Ancillary revenues .........................................................................................  
Total operating revenues – continuing operations ........................................  
Operating expenses 

17 
17 
17 

18 
2 

Staff costs ......................................................................................................  
Depreciation ...................................................................................................  
Fuel and oil ....................................................................................................  
Maintenance, materials and repairs ................................................................  
Aircraft rentals ...............................................................................................  
Route charges.................................................................................................  
Airport and handling charges .........................................................................  
Marketing, distribution and other ...................................................................  
Icelandic volcanic ash related cost .................................................................  
Total operating expenses .................................................................................  

3,504.0 
886.2 
4,390.2 

(415.0) 
(309.2) 
(1,593.6) 
(104.0) 
(90.7) 
(460.5) 
(554.0) 
(180.0) 
- 
(3,707.0) 

2,827.9 
801.6 
3,629.5 

(376.1) 
(277.7) 
(1,227.0) 
(93.9) 
(97.2) 
(410.6) 
(491.8) 
(154.6) 
(12.4) 
(3,141.3) 

2,324.5 
663.6 
2,988.1 

(335.0) 
(235.4) 
(893.9) 
(86.0) 
(95.5) 
(336.3) 
(459.1) 
(144.8) 
- 
(2,586.0) 

Operating profit – continuing operations ......................................................  

683.2 

488.2 

402.1 

23.5 
(72.1) 
(1.0) 
(13.5) 
2.0 
(61.1) 

341.0 
(35.7) 

305.3 

20.68 
20.60 
1,476.4 
1,481.7 

Other income/(expense) 

Finance income ..............................................................................................  
Finance expense .............................................................................................  
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) .........................................................................  
Loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial asset ...............................  
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment ........................................  
Total other expense ..........................................................................................  

20 

4 

Profit before tax ...............................................................................................  
Tax expense on profit on ordinary activities ..................................................  

12 

44.3 
(109.2) 
4.3 
- 
10.4 
(50.2) 

633.0 
(72.6) 

27.2 
(93.9) 
(0.6) 
- 
- 
(67.3) 

420.9 
(46.3) 

Profit for the year – all attributable to equity holders of parent .................  

560.4 

374.6 

Basic earnings per ordinary share (euro cent) ................................................  
Diluted earnings per ordinary share (euro cent) .............................................  
Number of ordinary shares (in Ms) ................................................................  
Number of diluted shares (in Ms) ..................................................................  

22 
22 
22 
22 

38.03 
37.94 
1,473.7 
1,477.0 

25.21 
25.14 
1,485.7 
1,490.1 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

On behalf of the Board 

M. O‘Leary 
Director  

D. Bonderman 
Director 

July 27, 2012 

132 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2012 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2011 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2010 

Profit for the year ...........................................................................................................  

560.4 

Other comprehensive income: 

€M 

€M 

374.6 

€M 

305.3 

(6.3) 
     Net actuarial (loss)/gain from retirement benefit plans  .........................................  

5.0 

- 

     Cash-flow hedge reserve-effective portion of fair value 

changes to derivatives: 
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash-flow hedges  .......................................  
Net change in fair value of cash-flow hedges transferred to 
property, plant and equipment  .........................................................................................  
Net change in fair value of cash-flow hedges transferred to profit 
or loss ................................................................................................................................  
Net movements in cash-flow hedge reserve ......................................................................  

255.0 
(118.8) 

(384.9) 

11.1 

Available for sale financial asset: 
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of available-for-sale asset .......................................  
Impairment of available-for-sale asset written off to the income 
statement ...........................................................................................................................  
Net movements in available-for-sale financial asset reserve .............................................  

- 
35.7 

35.7 

Total other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year, net of 
(89.4) 
income tax ........................................................................................................................  

227.1 

(15.2) 

(14.8) 
197.1 

(2.2) 

- 
(2.2) 

199.9 

129.8 

(16.7) 

(50.8) 
62.3 

23.0 

13.5 
36.5 

98.8 

Total comprehensive income for the year – all attributable to 
equity holders of parent  ................................................................................................  

471.0 

574.5 

404.1 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

On behalf of the Board 

M. O‘Leary 
Director  

D. Bonderman 
Director 

July 27, 2012 

133 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders‟ Equity 

Other Reserves 

Share      

Issued 
Share 
Capital  Account  Earnings  Reserve  Hedging  Reserves 

Capital 
Redemption 

Premium 

Retained 

Other 

€M 

€M 

€M 

Total 
€M 
2,425.1 
305.3 

22.1 
- 

- 

62.3 

36.5 
36.5 
36.5 

- 
4.9 

(0.5) 
63.0 
- 

36.5 
98.8 
404.1 

14.5 
4.9 

- 
2,848.6 
374.6 

(2.0) 
- 

62.3 

- 
62.3 
62.3 

- 
- 

- 
60.3 
- 

- 
197.1 

- 
- 

5.0 
197.1 

- 

(2.2) 

(2.2) 

197.1 
197.1 

(2.2) 
(2.2) 

199.9 
574.5 

- 
- 

- 
- 
257.4 

- 
3.3 

(4.5) 
- 
59.6 

27.5 
3.3 

- 
(500.0) 
2,953.9 

0.5 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
0.5 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
0.5 

Ordinary 
Shares 
M 

- 

- 
- 
- 

5.5 
- 

Balance at March 31, 2009……………  1,473.4 
Profit for the year……………………… 
- 
Other comprehensive income 
Net movements in cash-flow reserve… 
Net change in fair value of available-for 
-sale asset………………………………. 
Total other comprehensive income…… 
Total comprehensive income…………. 
Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity 
Issue of ordinary equity shares………… 
Share-based payments………………… 
Transfer of exercised and expired share-
- 
based awards…………………………… 
Balance at March 31, 2010……………  1,478.9 
Profit for the year……………………… 
- 
Other comprehensive income 
Net actuarial gains from  retirement  
benefits plan…………………………… 
Net movements in cash-flow reserve… 
Net change in fair value of available-for 
-sale asset…….………………………… 
Total other comprehensive 
income/(loss)…………………………... 
Total comprehensive income……….….. 
Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity 
Issue of ordinary equity shares………… 
Share-based payments………………… 
Transfer of exercised and expired 
- 
share-based awards………………….. 
Dividend paid………………….……… 
- 
Balance at March 31, 2011……………  1,489.6 

10.7 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

€M 

9.4 
- 

€M 
617.4 
- 

€M 
1,777.7 
305.3 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
305.3 

14.5 
- 

- 
- 

- 
9.4 
- 

- 
631.9 
- 

0.5 
2,083.5 
374.6 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

0.1 
- 

- 
- 
9.5 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

5.0 
- 

- 

5.0 
379.6 

27.4 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
659.3 

4.5 
(500.0) 
1,967.6 

134 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders‟ Equity Continued 

Share      

Issued 
Share 
Capital  Account  Earnings  Reserve  Hedging  Reserves 

Capital 
Redemption 

Premium 

Retained 

Other 

Other Reserves 

€M 

€M 

€M 

€M 

€M 

Ordinary 
Shares 
M 

- 

- 

- 
- 

Profit for the year……………………… 
Other comprehensive income 
Net actuarial losses from  retirement 
benefits plan………………………….. 
Net movements in cash-flow reserve… 
Net change in fair value of available-for 
-sale asset…….………………………… 
Total other comprehensive 
income/(loss)…………………………... 
Total comprehensive income……….….. 
Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity 
Issue of ordinary equity shares………… 
Repurchase of ordinary equity shares…. 
Cancellation of repurchased ordinary 
shares…………………………………. 
Share-based payments………………… 
Transfer of exercised and expired share-
- 
based awards…………………………… 
Balance at March 31, 2012……………  1,455.6 

(36.5) 
- 

2.5 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 
- 

(0.2) 
- 

- 
9.3 

€M 
560.4 

(6.3) 
- 

- 

(6.3) 
554.1 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

7.1 
- 

- 
(124.6) 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
666.4 

3.0 
2,400.1 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 
- 

0.2 
- 

- 
0.7 

- 

- 
(118.8) 

- 

(118.8) 
(118.8) 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
138.6 

Total 
€M 
560.4 

(6.3) 
(118.8) 

35.7 

(89.4) 
471.0 

- 

- 
- 

35.7 

35.7 
35.7 

- 
- 

7.1 
(124.6) 

- 
(0.7) 

(3.0) 
91.6 

- 
(0.7) 

- 
3,306.7 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

135 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Operating activities 

Profit before tax .............................................................................................  

633.0 

420.9 

341.0 

Adjustments to reconcile profit before tax  
to net cash provided by operating activities 

Depreciation...................................................................................................  
Increase in inventories ...................................................................................   
Increase in trade receivables ..........................................................................  
Decrease/(increase) in other current assets ....................................................  
Increase/(decrease) in trade payables .............................................................  
Increase in accrued expenses .........................................................................  
Increase/(decrease) in other creditors ............................................................  
Increase/(decrease)  in maintenance provisions .............................................  
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment........................................  
Loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial asset ...............................  
Decrease/(increase) in interest receivable ......................................................  
Increase/(decrease) in interest payable...........................................................  
Retirement costs ............................................................................................  
Share-based payments ...................................................................................  
Income tax paid .............................................................................................  

Net cash provided by operating activities ..................................................  

Investing activities 

Capital expenditure (purchase of property, plant and equipment)……  
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment ....................................  
Decrease in restricted cash .............................................................................  
Decrease/(increase) in financial assets: cash > 3 months ...............................  

Net cash used in investing activities............................................................  

309.2 
(0.1) 
(0.9) 
34.5 
30.4 
11.6 
19.7 
6.6 
(10.4) 
- 
- 
1.1 
(0.1) 
(0.7) 
(13.6) 
1,020.3 

(317.6) 
27.2 
7.8 
97.2 
(185.4) 

Financing activities 

Shares purchased under share buy-back programme .....................................   (124.6) 
7.1 
Net proceeds from shares issued ....................................................................  
Dividend paid ................................................................................................  
- 
292.3 
Proceeds from long term borrowings .............................................................  
Repayments of long term borrowings ............................................................   (329.7) 
(154.9) 

Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities ...................................  

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ......................................  

680.0 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year .............................................   2,028.3 
2,708.3 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ..................................................  

277.7 
(0.2) 
(6.3) 
(20.9) 
(3.2) 
135.0 
(10.0) 
(7.9) 
- 
- 
1.6 
2.3 
(0.1) 
3.3 
(5.9) 
786.3 

(897.2) 
- 
24.9 
398.3 
(474.0) 

- 
27.4 
(500.0) 
991.4 
(280.7) 
238.1 

550.4 
1,477.9 
2,028.3 

235.4 
(0.4) 
(2.5) 
11.6 
21.3 
189.7 
30.1 
30.7 
(2.0) 
13.5 
(1.2) 
(0.5) 
(0.1) 
4.9 
- 
871.5 

(997.8) 
89.2 
223.8 
(864.3) 
(1,549.1) 

- 
14.5 
- 
788.1 
(230.3) 
572.3 

(105.3) 
1,583.2 
1,477.9 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

136 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes forming part of the Consolidated Financial Statements 

1 

Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies  

The accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for the 2012 
fiscal year are set out below. These have been applied consistently for all periods presented, except as otherwise 
stated. 

Business activity 

Ryanair Limited and its subsidiaries (―Ryanair Limited‖) has operated as an international airline since 
commencing  operations  in  1985.  On  August  23,  1996,  Ryanair  Holdings  Limited,  a  newly  formed  holding 
company,  acquired  the  entire  issued  share  capital  of  Ryanair  Limited.  On  May  16,  1997,  Ryanair  Holdings 
Limited re-registered as a public limited company, Ryanair Holdings plc (the  ―Company‖). Ryanair Holdings 
plc  and  its  subsidiaries  are  hereafter  together  referred  to  as  ―Ryanair  Holdings  plc‖  (or  ―we‖,  ―our‖,  ―us‖, 
―Ryanair‖  or  the  ―Company‖)  and  currently  operate  a  low-fares  airline  headquartered  in  Dublin,  Ireland.  All 
trading activity continues to be undertaken by the group of companies headed by Ryanair Limited.  

Statement of compliance 

In  accordance  with  the  International  Accounting  Standards  (―IAS‖)  Regulation  (EC  1606  (2002)) 
which applies throughout the European Union (―EU‖), the consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
in  accordance  with  International  Accounting  Standards  and  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(collectively ―IFRS‖) as adopted by the EU, which are effective for the year ended and as at March 31, 2012. In 
addition  to  complying  with  its  legal  obligation  to  comply  with  IFRS  as  adopted  by  the  EU,  the  consolidated 
financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRS  as  issued  by  the  International  Accounting 
Standards Board (―IASB‖). The consolidated financial statements have also been prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012.  

Details of legislative changes and new accounting  standards or amendments to accounting  standards, 
which are not yet effective and have not been early adopted in these  consolidated financial statements, and the 
likely impact on future financial statements are set forth below in the prospective accounting changes section.  

New accounting standards adopted during the year 

There were no new standards, interpretations or amendments to existing standards adopted for the first 
time  during  the  year  ended  March  31,  2012,  which  had  a  material  impact  on  our  financial  position  or  results 
from operations. 

Basis of preparation 

These  consolidated  financial  statements  are  presented  in  euro  millions,  the  euro  being  the  functional 
currency of the parent entity and the majority of the group companies. They are prepared on the historical cost 
basis, except for derivative financial instruments and available-for-sale securities which are stated at fair value, 
and share-based payments, which are based on fair value determined as at the grant date of the relevant share 
options. Certain non-current assets classified as held for sale are stated at the lower of cost and fair value less 
costs to sell. 

Critical accounting policies 

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRS  requires  management  to  make 
judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and 
liabilities, income and expenses. These estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience 
and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the  circumstances, and the results of such estimates 
form the basis of judgements about carrying  values of assets and liabilities that are  not readily apparent  from 
other  sources.  Actual  results  could  differ  materially  from  these  estimates.  These  underlying  assumptions  are 
reviewed  on  an  ongoing  basis.  A  revision  to  an  accounting  estimate  is  recognised  in  the  period  in  which  the 
estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if 

137 

 
 
these are also affected. Principal sources of estimation uncertainty have been set forth in the critical accounting 
policies section below. Actual results may differ from estimates. 

The Company believes that its critical accounting policies, which are those that require management‘s 
most difficult, subjective and complex judgements, are those described in this section. These critical accounting 
policies,  the  judgements  and  other  uncertainties  affecting  application  of  these  policies  and  the  sensitivity  of 
reported  results  to  changes  in  conditions  and  assumptions  are  factors  to  be  considered  in  reviewing  the 
consolidated financial statements. 

Long-lived assets 

As  of  March  31,  2012,  Ryanair  had  €4.9  billion  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  long-lived  assets, 
virtually  all  of  which  consisted  of  aircraft.  In  accounting  for  long-lived  assets,  Ryanair  must  make  estimates 
about  the  expected  useful  lives  of  the  assets,  the  expected  residual  values  of  the  assets  and  the  potential  for 
impairment based on the fair value of the assets and the cash flows they generate.  

In estimating the lives and expected residual values of its aircraft, Ryanair has primarily relied on its 
own and industry experience, recommendations from Boeing, the manufacturer of all of the Company‘s aircraft, 
and other data available in the marketplace. Subsequent revisions to these estimates, which can be significant, 
could be caused by changes to Ryanair‘s maintenance program, changes in utilisation of the aircraft, changes to 
governmental regulations on aging aircraft, and changing market prices for new and used aircraft of the same or 
similar types.  Ryanair evaluates its estimates and assumptions in each reporting period, and,  when  warranted, 
adjusts  these  assumptions.  Generally,  these  adjustments  are  accounted  for  on  a  prospective  basis,  through 
depreciation expense. 

Ryanair  periodically  evaluates  its  long-lived  assets  for  impairment.  Factors  that  would  indicate 
potential  impairment  would  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  significant  decreases  in  the  market  value  of  an 
aircraft, a significant change in an aircraft‘s physical condition and operating or cash flow losses associated with 
the use of the aircraft. While the airline industry as a whole has experienced many of these factors from time to 
time, Ryanair has not yet been seriously impacted and continues to record positive cash flows from these long-
lived assets. Consequently, Ryanair has not yet identified any impairments related to its existing aircraft fleet. 
The Company will continue to monitor its long-lived assets and the general airline operating environment.  

The Company‘s estimate of the recoverable amount of aircraft residual values is 15% of current market 
value  of  new  aircraft,  determined  periodically,  based  on  independent  valuations  and  actual  aircraft  disposals 
during  prior  periods.  Aircraft  are  depreciated  over  a  useful  life  of  23  years  from  the  date  of  manufacture  to 
residual value. 

Heavy maintenance 

An  element  of  the  cost  of  an  acquired  aircraft  is  attributed,  on  acquisition,  to  its  service  potential, 

reflecting the maintenance condition of the engines and airframe.  

For aircraft held under operating lease agreements, Ryanair is contractually committed to either return 
the  aircraft  in  a  certain  condition  or  to  compensate  the  lessor  based  on  the  actual  condition  of  the  airframe, 
engines and life-limited parts upon return. In order to fulfill such conditions of  the  lease,  maintenance, in the 
form  of  major  airframe  overhaul,  engine  maintenance  checks,  and  restitution  of  major  life-limited  parts,  is 
required  to  be  performed  during  the  period  of  the  lease  and  upon  return  of  the  aircraft  to  the  lessor.  The 
estimated  airframe  and  engine  maintenance  costs  and  the  costs  associated  with  the  restitution  of  major  life-
limited parts, are accrued and charged to profit or loss over the lease term for this contractual obligation, based 
on the present value of the estimated future cost of the major airframe overhaul, engine maintenance checks, and 
restitution of major life-limited parts, calculated by reference to the number of hours flown or cycles operated 
during the year. 

Ryanair‘s  aircraft  operating  lease  agreements  typically  have  a  term  of  seven  years,  which  closely 
correlates  with  the  timing  of  heavy  maintenance  checks.  The  contractual  obligation  to  maintain  and  replenish 
aircraft  held  under  operating  lease  exists  independently  of  any  future  actions  within  the  control  of  Ryanair.  
While Ryanair may, in very limited circumstances, sub-lease its aircraft, it remains fully liable to perform all of 
its contractual obligations under the ‗head lease‘ notwithstanding any such sub-leasing. 

138 

 
 
Both of these elements of accounting policies involve the use of estimates in determining the quantum 
of both the initial maintenance asset and/or the amount of provisions to be recorded and the respective periods 
over which such amounts are charged to income. In making such estimates, Ryanair has primarily relied on its 
own and industry experience, industry regulations and recommendations from Boeing; however, these estimates 
can be subject to revision, depending on a number of factors, such as the timing of the planned maintenance, the 
ultimate  utilisation  of  the  aircraft,  changes  to  government  regulations  and  increases  or  decreases  in  estimated 
costs. Ryanair evaluates its estimates and assumptions in each reporting period and, when warranted, adjusts its 
assumptions,  which  generally  impact  maintenance  and  depreciation  expense  in  the  income  statement  on  a 
prospective basis. 

Basis of consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of Ryanair Holdings plc and its 
subsidiary  undertakings  as  of  March  31,  2012.  Subsidiaries  are  entities  controlled  by  Ryanair.  Control  exists 
when  Ryanair  has  the  power  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  govern  the  financial  and  operating  policies  of  an 
entity so as to obtain benefit from its activities. 

All  inter-company  account  balances  and  any  unrealised  income  or  expenses  arising  from  intra-group 

transactions have been eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. 

The  results  of  subsidiary  undertakings  acquired  or  disposed  of  in  the  period  are  included  in  the 
consolidated income statement from the date of acquisition or up to the date of disposal. Upon the acquisition of 
a business, fair values are attributed to the separable net assets acquired. 

Business combinations 

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method as at the acquisition date, which 
is  the  date  on  which  control  is  transferred  to  the  Company.  Control  is  the  power  to  govern  the  financial  and 
operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. 

Acquisitions on or after April 1, 2010 

For acquisitions on or after January 1, 2010, the Company measures goodwill at the acquisition date as 
the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the recognised amount of any non-controlling interests in the 
acquiree, less the net recognised amount of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. 

Acquisitions between January 1, 2004 and April 1, 2010 

For acquisitions between January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2010, goodwill represents the excess of the 
cost of the acquisition over the Company‘s interest in the recognised amount of the identifiable assets, liabilities 
and contingent liabilities of the acquiree. 

Acquisitions prior to January 1, 2004 (date of transition to IFRSs) 

As part of its transition to the IFRSs, the Company elected to restate only those business combinations 
that occurred on or after January 1, 2003. Prior to January 1, 2003, goodwill represented the amount recognised 
under the Company‘s previous accounting framework, Irish GAAP. 

Foreign currency translation 

Items included in the financial statements of each of the group entities are measured using the currency 
of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the ―functional currency‖). The consolidated 
financial statements are presented in euro, which is the functional currency of the majority of the group entities. 

Transactions arising in foreign currencies are translated into the respective functional currencies at the 
rates of exchange in effect at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are re-translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to euro at foreign exchange rates in effect at the dates 
the transactions were effected. Foreign currency differences arising on retranslation are recognised in profit or 

139 

 
 
loss,  except  for  differences  arising  on  qualifying  cash-flow  hedges,  which  are  recognised  in  other 
comprehensive income. 

Property, plant and equipment 

Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and provisions 
for impairments, if any. Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. Cost 
may also include transfers from other comprehensive income of any gain or loss on qualifying cash-flow hedges 
of foreign currency purchases of property, plant and equipment. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the 
cost,  less  estimated  residual  value,  of  assets  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  their  expected  useful  lives  at  the 
following annual rates: 

Hangar and buildings .....................................................................................................................  
Plant and equipment (excluding aircraft) .......................................................................................  
Fixtures and fittings .......................................................................................................................  
Motor vehicles ...............................................................................................................................  

Rate of 
Depreciation 
5% 
20-33.3% 
20% 
33.3% 

Aircraft are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives to estimated residual 

values. The estimates of useful lives and residual values at year-end are: 

Aircraft Type 
Boeing 737-800s 

Number of Owned Aircraft 

at March 31, 2012 

235(a) 

Useful Life 
23 years from date of 
manufacture 

Residual Value 
15% of current market value of new 
aircraft, determined periodically 

______________ 
(a)  The Company operated 294 aircraft as of March 31, 2012, of which 59 were leased. 

The Company‘s estimate of the recoverable amount of aircraft residual values is 15% of current market 
value  of  new  aircraft,  determined  periodically,  based  on  independent  valuations  and  actual  aircraft  disposals 
during prior periods.  

An  element  of  the  cost  of  an  acquired  aircraft  is  attributed  on  acquisition  to  its  service  potential, 
reflecting  the  maintenance  condition  of  its  engines  and  airframe.  This  cost,  which  can  equate  to  a  substantial 
element  of  the  total  aircraft  cost,  is  amortised  over  the  shorter  of  the  period  to  the  next  maintenance  check 
(usually between 8 and 12 years for Boeing 737-800 aircraft) or the remaining life of the aircraft. The costs of 
subsequent major airframe and engine maintenance checks are capitalised and amortised over the shorter of the 
period to the next check or the remaining life of the aircraft. 

Advance and option payments made in respect of aircraft purchase commitments and options to acquire 
aircraft are recorded at cost and separately disclosed within property, plant and equipment. On acquisition of the 
related aircraft, these payments are included as part of the cost of aircraft and are depreciated from that date. 

Rotable  spare  parts  held  by  the  Company  are  classified  as  property,  plant  and  equipment  if  they  are 

expected to be used over more than one period. 

Gains and losses on disposal of items of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing 
the proceeds from disposal with the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, and are recognised on a 
net basis within other income/(expenses) in profit or loss. 

Aircraft maintenance costs 

The  accounting  for  the  cost  of  providing  major  airframe  and  certain  engine  maintenance  checks  for 

owned aircraft is described in the accounting policy for property, plant and equipment. 

For aircraft held under operating lease agreements, Ryanair is contractually committed to either return 
the  aircraft  in  a  certain  condition  or  to  compensate  the  lessor  based  on  the  actual  condition  of  the  airframe, 

140 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
engines and life-limited parts upon return. In order to fulfill such conditions of  the  lease,  maintenance, in the 
form  of  major  airframe  overhaul,  engine  maintenance  checks,  and  restitution  of  major  life-limited  parts,  is 
required  to  be  performed  during  the  period  of  the  lease  and  upon  return  of  the  aircraft  to  the  lessor.  The 
estimated  airframe  and  engine  maintenance  costs  and  the  costs  associated  with  the  restitution  of  major  life-
limited parts, are accrued and charged to profit or loss over the lease term for this contractual obligation, based 
on the present value of the estimated future cost of the major airframe overhaul, engine maintenance checks, and 
restitution of major life-limited parts, calculated by reference to the number of hours flown or cycles operated 
during the year. 

Ryanair‘s  aircraft  operating  lease  agreements  typically  have  a  term  of  seven  years,  which  closely 
correlates  with  the  timing  of  heavy  maintenance  checks.  The  contractual  obligation  to  maintain  and  replenish 
aircraft  held  under  operating  lease  exists  independently  of  any  future  actions  within  the  control  of  Ryanair.  
While Ryanair may, in very limited circumstances, sub-lease its aircraft, it remains fully liable to perform all of 
its contractual obligations under the ‗head lease‘ notwithstanding any such sub-leasing. 

All  other  maintenance  costs,  other  than  major  airframe  overhaul,  engine  maintenance  checks,  and 

restitution of major life-limited parts costs associated with leased aircraft, are expensed as incurred. 

Intangible assets - landing rights 

Intangible  assets  acquired  are  recognised  to  the  extent  it  is  considered  probable  that  expected  future 
benefits will flow to the Company and the associated costs can be measured reliably. Landing rights acquired as 
part of a business combination are capitalised at fair value at that date and are not amortised, where those rights 
are  considered  to  be  indefinite.  The  carrying  values  of  those  rights  are  reviewed  for  impairment  at  each 
reporting  date  and  are  subject  to  impairment  testing  when  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that 
carrying  values  may  not  be  recoverable.  No  impairment  to  the  carrying  values  of  the  Company‘s  intangible 
assets has been recorded to date. 

Available-for-sale securities 

The  Company  holds  certain  equity  securities,  which  are  classified  as  available-for-sale,  and  are 
measured  at  fair  value,  less  incremental  direct  costs,  on  initial  recognition.  Such  securities  are  classified  as 
available-for-sale,  rather  than  as  an  investment  in  an  associate  if  the  Company  does  not  have  the  power  to 
exercise significant influence over the investee. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at fair value 
and changes therein, other than impairment losses, are recognised in other comprehensive income and reflected 
in shareholders equity in the consolidated balance sheet.  Fair value losses, subsequent to any impairments are 
recognised in other comprehensive income against net cumulative gains in the reserve.  Fair value losses below 
the impaired value are recognised on the income  statement. The fair values of available-for-sale securities are 
determined  by  reference  to  quoted  prices  at  each  reporting  date.  When  an  investment  is  de-recognised  the 
cumulative gain or loss in other comprehensive income is transferred to the income statement.  

Such securities are considered to be impaired if there is objective evidence which indicates that events 
have occurred that can reasonably be expected to adversely affect the  future cash flows of the securities, such 
that the future cash flows do not support the current fair value of the securities. This includes where there is a 
significant  or  prolonged  decline  in  the  fair  value  below  its  cost.  All  impairment  losses  are  recognised  in  the 
income statement and any cumulative loss in respect of an available-for-sale asset recognised previously in other 
comprehensive income is also transferred to the income statement. 

Other financial assets 

Other financial assets (other than available-for-sale financial assets) comprise cash deposits of greater 
than three months‘ maturity. All amounts are categorised as loans and receivables and are carried initially at fair 
value and then subsequently at amortised cost, using the effective interest method in the balance sheet. 

Derivative financial instruments 

Ryanair  is  exposed  to  market  risks  relating  to  fluctuations  in  commodity  prices,  interest  rates  and 
currency  exchange  rates.  The  objective  of  financial  risk  management  at  Ryanair  is  to  minimise  the  impact  of 

141 

 
 
commodity  price,  interest  rate  and  foreign  exchange  rate  fluctuations  on  the  Company‘s  earnings,  cash  flows 
and equity. 

To  manage  these  risks,  Ryanair  uses  various  derivative  financial  instruments,  including  interest  rate 
swaps, foreign currency forward contracts and commodity contracts. These derivative financial instruments are 
generally held to maturity. The Company enters into these arrangements with the goal of hedging its operational 
and balance sheet risk. However, Ryanair‘s exposure to commodity price, interest rate and currency exchange 
rate fluctuations cannot be neutralised completely. 

Derivative financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, 
derivative financial instruments continue to be re-measured to fair value, and changes therein are accounted for 
as described below. 

The  fair  value  of  interest  rate  swaps  is  computed  by  discounting  the  projected  cash  flows  on  the 
Company‘s swap arrangements to present value using an appropriate market rate of interest. The fair value of 
forward  foreign  exchange  contracts  and  commodity  contracts  is  determined  based  on  the  present  value  of  the 
quoted forward price. Recognition of any resultant gain or loss depends on the nature of the item being hedged. 

Where  a  derivative financial instrument is designated as a  hedge of the  variability in cash flows of a 
recognised asset or liability or a highly probable forecasted transaction, the effective part of any gain or loss on 
the  derivative  financial  instrument  is  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income  (in  the  cash  flow  hedging 
reserve  on  the  balance  sheet).  When  the  hedged  forecasted  transaction  results  in  the  recognition  of  a  non-
financial  asset  or  liability,  the  cumulative  gain  or  loss  is  removed  from  other  comprehensive  income  and 
included in the initial measurement of that asset or liability. Otherwise the cumulative gain or loss is removed 
from  other  comprehensive  income  and  recognised  in  the  income  statement  at  the  same  time  as  the  hedged 
transaction.  The  ineffective  part  of  any  hedging  transaction  and  the  gain  or  loss  thereon  is  recognised  in  the 
income statement immediately. 

When a hedging instrument or hedge relationship is terminated but the underlying hedged transaction is 
still expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss at that point remains in other comprehensive income and is 
recognised  in  accordance  with  the  above  policy  when  the  transaction  occurs.  If  the  hedged  transaction  is  no 
longer expected to take place, the cumulative unrealised gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income 
is recognised in the income statement immediately. 

Where  a  derivative  financial  instrument  hedges  the  changes  in  fair  value  of  a  recognised  asset  or 
liability or an unrecognised firm commitment, any gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised in the 
income statement. The hedged item is also stated at fair value in respect of the risk being hedged, with any gain 
or loss also being recognised in the income statement. 

Inventories 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is based on invoiced price on 
an average basis for all stock categories. Net realisable value is calculated as the estimated selling price arising 
in the ordinary course of business, net of estimated selling costs. 

Trade and other receivables and payables 

Trade  and  other  receivables  and  payables  are  stated  on  initial  recognition  at  fair  value  plus  any 
incremental direct costs and subsequently at amortised cost, net (in the case of receivables) of any impairment 
losses, which approximates fair value given the short-dated nature of these assets and liabilities. 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash  represents  cash  held  at  banks  and  available  on  demand,  and  is  categorised  for  measurement 

purposes as ―loans and receivables.‖ 

Cash equivalents are current asset investments (other than cash) that are readily convertible into known 
amounts of cash, typically cash deposits of more than one day but less than three months at the date of purchase. 
Deposits with maturities greater than three months are recognised as short-term investments, are categorised as 

142 

 
 
loans and receivables and are carried initially at  fair  value  and then  subsequently at amortised cost,  using  the 
effective-interest method. 

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

All loans and borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, being the fair value of the consideration 
received,  net  of  attributable  transaction  costs.  Subsequent  to  initial  recognition,  non-current  interest-bearing 
loans are measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest yield methodology. 

Leases 

Leases under which the Company assumes substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership are 
classified as finance leases. Assets held under finance leases are capitalised in the balance sheet, at an amount 
equal to the lower of their fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments, and are depreciated 
over  their  estimated  useful  lives.  The  present  values  of  the  future  lease  payments  are  recorded  as  obligations 
under finance leases and the interest element of a lease obligation is charged to the income statement over the 
period of the lease in proportion to the balances outstanding. 

Other leases are operating leases and the associated leased assets are not recognised on the Company‘s 
balance sheet.  Expenditure arising under operating leases is charged to the income statement as incurred. The 
Company also enters into sale-and-leaseback transactions whereby it sells the rights to an aircraft to an external 
party and subsequently leases the aircraft back, by way of an operating lease. Any profit or loss on the disposal 
where the price achieved is not considered to be at fair value is spread over the period during which the asset is 
expected  to  be  used.  The  profit  or  loss  amount  deferred  is  included  within  ―other  creditors‖  and  divided  into 
components of greater than and less than one year. 

Provisions and contingencies 

A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when there is a present legal or constructive obligation 
as a result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefit will be required to settle the 
obligation. If the effect is  material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future outflow at a 
pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and, when appropriate, the risks 
specific to the liability. 

The  Company  assesses  the  likelihood  of  any  adverse  outcomes  to  contingencies,  including  legal 
matters,  as  well  as  probable  losses.  We  record  provisions  for  such  contingencies  when  it  is  probable  that  a 
liability  will  be  incurred  and  the  amount  of  the  loss  can  be  reasonably  estimated.  A  contingent  liability  is 
disclosed where the existence of the obligation will only be confirmed by future events, or where the amount of 
the obligation cannot be measured with reasonable reliability. Provisions are re-measured at each balance sheet 
date based on the best estimate of the settlement amount. 

In  relation  to  legal  matters,  we  develop  estimates  in  consultation  with  internal  and  external  legal 
counsel using the current facts and circumstances known to us. The factors that we consider in developing our 
legal  provisions  include  the  merits  and  jurisdiction  of  the  litigation,  the  nature  and  number  of  other  similar 
current and past litigation cases, the nature of the subject matter of the litigation, the likelihood of settlement and 
current state of settlement discussions, if any. 

Segment reporting 

Operating  segments  are  reported  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  internal  organisational  and 
management  structure  and  the  internal  reporting  information  provided  to  the  chief  operating  decision  maker, 
who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of operating segments.  The Company is 
managed as a single business unit that provides low fares airline-related services, including scheduled services, 
and ancillary services including car hire services, and internet and other related services to third parties, across a 
European route network.   

143 

 
 
Income statement classification and presentation 

Individual income statement captions have been presented on the face of the income statement, together 
with additional line items, headings and sub-totals, where it is determined that such presentation is relevant to an 
understanding of our financial performance, in accordance with IAS 1, ―Presentation of Financial Statements‖. 

Expenses are classified and presented in accordance with the nature-of-expenses method. We disclose 
separately on the face of the income statement, within other income and expense, losses on the impairment of 
available-for-sale financial assets and gains or losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment. The nature 
of the Company‘s available-for-sale asset is that of a financial investment; accordingly any impairment of the 
investment is categorised as finance expense and included in other income/(expense) as a separate line item. The 
presentation of gains or losses on the disposal of property, plant and equipment within other income/(expense) 
accords with industry practice.  

Revenues 

Scheduled revenues comprise the invoiced value of airline and other services, net of government taxes. 
Revenue  from  the  sale  of  flight  seats  is  recognised  in  the  period  in  which  the  service  is  provided.  Unearned 
revenue  represents  flight  seats  sold  but  not  yet  flown  and  a  provision  for  government  tax  refund  claims 
attributable  to  unused  tickets,  and  is  included  in  accrued  expenses  and  other  liabilities.  Revenue,  net  of 
government  taxes,  is  released  to  the  income  statement  as  passengers  fly.  Unused  tickets  are  recognised  as 
revenue on a systematic basis, such that twelve months of time expired revenues are recognised in revenue in 
each  fiscal  year.  Miscellaneous  fees  charged  for  any  changes  to  flight  tickets  are  recognised  in  revenue 
immediately. 

During fiscal year 2012, changes in estimates relating to the timing of revenue recognition for unused 
passenger tickets were made, resulting in increased revenue in the current year of €65.3 million.  This change 
reflects more accurate and timely data obtained through system enhancements. 

Ancillary  revenues  are  recognised  in  the  income  statement  in  the  period  the  ancillary  services  are 

provided. 

Share-based payments 

The  Company  engages  in  equity-settled,  share-based  payment  transactions  in  respect  of  services 
received from certain of its employees. The fair value of the services received is measured by reference to the 
fair  value  of  the  share  options  on  the  date  of  the  grant.  The  grant  measurement  date  is  the  date  that  a  shared 
understanding of the terms of the award is established between the Company and the employee. The cost of the 
employee services received in respect of the share options granted is recognised in the income statement over 
the period that the services are received, which is the vesting period, with a corresponding increase in equity. To 
the  extent  that  service  is  provided  prior  to  the  grant  measurement  date,  the  fair  value  of  the  share  options  is 
initially estimated and re-measured at each balance sheet date until the grant measurement date is achieved. The 
fair value of the options granted is determined using a binomial lattice option-pricing model, which takes into 
account the exercise price of the option, the current share price, the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility 
of the Ryanair Holdings plc share price over the life of the option and other relevant factors. Non-market vesting 
conditions  are  taken  into  account  by  adjusting  the  number  of  shares  or  share  options  included  in  the 
measurement of the cost of employee services so that ultimately, the amount recognised in the income statement 
reflects the number of vested shares or share options. 

Pensions and other post-retirement obligations 

The  Company provides certain employees  with post-retirement benefits  in the  form of  pensions. The 

Company operates a number of defined contribution and defined benefit pension schemes. 

Costs  arising  in  respect  of  the  Company‘s  defined  contribution  pension  schemes  (where  fixed 
contributions are paid into the scheme and  there is no legal or constructive obligation to pay further amounts) 
are charged to the income statement in the period in which they are incurred. Any contributions unpaid at the 
balance sheet date are included as a liability. 

144 

 
 
A defined benefit plan is a post-employment benefit plan other than a defined-contribution plan. The 
liabilities and costs associated with the Company‘s defined benefit pension schemes are assessed on the basis of 
the  projected  unit  credit  method  by  professionally  qualified  actuaries  and  are  arrived  at  using  actuarial 
assumptions based on market expectations at the balance sheet date. The discount rates employed in determining 
the present value of each scheme‘s liabilities are determined by reference to market yields at the balance sheet 
date of high quality corporate bonds in the same currency and term that is consistent with those of the associated 
pension  obligations.  The  net  surplus  or  deficit  arising  on  the  Company‘s  defined-benefit  schemes  is  shown 
within  non-current  assets  or  liabilities  on  the  balance  sheet.  The  deferred  tax  impact  of  any  such  amount  is 
disclosed separately within deferred tax. 

The  Company  separately  recognises  the  operating  and  financing  costs  of  defined-benefit  pensions  in 
the income statement. IFRS permits a number of options for the recognition of actuarial gains and losses. The 
Company has opted to recognise all actuarial gains and losses within other comprehensive income. 

Income taxes including deferred income taxes 

Income tax on the profit or loss for a year comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised 
in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income 
(such  as  certain  hedging  derivative  financial  instruments,  available-for-sale  assets,  pensions  and  other  post-
retirement obligations). Current tax payable on taxable profits is recognised as an expense in the period in which 
the profits arise using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. 

Deferred  income  tax  is  provided  in  full,  using  the  balance  sheet  liability  method,  on  temporary 
differences  arising  from  the  tax  bases  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  carrying  accounts  in  the  consolidated 
financial statements. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates and legislation enacted or substantively 
enacted by the balance sheet date and expected to apply when the temporary differences reverse. 

The  following  temporary  differences  are  not  provided  for:  (i)  the  initial  recognition  of  assets  and 
liabilities  that  effect  neither  accounting  nor  taxable  profit  and  (ii)  differences  relating  to  investments  in 
subsidiaries to the extent that it is probable they will not reverse in the future.  

A  deferred  tax  asset  is  recognised  to  the  extent  that  it  is  probable  that  future  taxable  profits  will  be 
available against which temporary differences can be utilised. The carrying amounts of deferred tax assets are 
reviewed  at  each  balance  sheet  date  and  reduced  to  the  extent  that  it  is  no  longer  probable  that  a  sufficient 
taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be realised. 

Share capital 

Ordinary  shares  are  classified  as  equity.  Incremental  costs  directly  attributable  to  the  issuance  of 
ordinary shares and share options are recognised as a deduction from equity, net of any tax effects. When share 
capital  recognised  as  equity  is  repurchased,  the  amount  of  consideration  paid,  which  includes  any  directly 
attributable  costs,  net  of  any  tax  effects,  is  recognised  as  a  deduction  from  equity.  Repurchased  shares  are 
classified as treasury shares and are presented as a deduction from total equity, until they are cancelled.  

Prospective accounting changes, new standards and interpretations not yet adopted 

The following new or revised IFRS standards and IFRIC interpretations will be adopted for purposes of 
the preparation of future financial statements, where applicable. We do not anticipate that the adoption of these 
new or revised standards and interpretations will have a material impact on our financial position or results from 
operations, except for IFRS 9, which may impact the classification and measurement of some of the Company‘s 
financial  instruments.  The  Company  does  not  currently  plan  to  early  adopt  this  standard.  The  impact  of  this 
standard will be considered when all elements of the final IFRS have been issued. 

  Amendments  to  IFRS  7,  ―Disclosure  –  Transfers  of  Financial  Assets”  (effective  for  fiscal  periods 

beginning on or after July 1, 2011).* 

  Amendment  to  IAS  12,  ―Deferred  Tax:  Recovery  of  Underlying  Assets‖  (effective  for  fiscal  periods 

beginning on or after January 1, 2012).  

145 

 
 
IAS 1 (amendment 2011) “Presentation of items of other comprehensive income” (effective for fiscal 
periods beginning on or after July 1, 2012).* 

IFRS  10,  ―Consolidated  Financial  Statements”  (effective  for  fiscal  periods  beginning  on  or  after 
January 1, 2013).  

IAS  19  (amendment  2011)  “Employee  benefits”  (effective  for  fiscal  periods  beginning  on  or  after 
January 1, 2013).* 

IFRS 11, ―Joint Arrangements” (effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013). 

IFRS 12, ―Disclosure of Interests in other Entities” (effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after 
January 1, 2013). 

IFRS  13,  ―Fair  Value  Measurement”  (effective  for  fiscal  periods  beginning  on  or  after  January  1, 
2013). 

IAS 27 (amended 2011) ―Separate Financial Statements‖ (effective for fiscal periods beginning on or 
after January 1, 2013). 

IAS  28  (amended  2011)  ―Investments  in  Associates  and  Joint  Ventures‖  (effective  for  fiscal  periods 
beginning on or after January 1, 2013).  

  Amendments to IFRS 7: “Disclosures – Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” 

(effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013). 

  Offsetting  Financial  Assets  and  Financial  Liabilities  (Amendment  to  IAS  32):  (effective  for  fiscal 

periods beginning on or after January 1, 2014). 

IFRS  9  Financial  Instruments  (IFRS  9  (2010))  –effective  from  January  1,  2015.   (effective  for  fiscal 
periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015). 

Improvements to IFRSs (2009-2011, issued May 2012): (effective for fiscal periods beginning January 
1, 2013) 

*Endorced by the EU 

2 

Property, plant and equipment  

Aircraft 
€M 

Hangar and 
Buildings 
€M 

Plant and 
Equipment 
€M 

Fixtures 
and 
Fittings 
€M 

Motor 
Vehicles 
€M 

Total 
€M 

Year ended March 31, 2012 
Cost 

At March 31, 2011 ........................................  
Additions in year ..........................................  
Disposals in year ...........................................  
At March 31, 2012 ........................................  

5,953.2 
312.3 
(107.2) 
6,158.3 

Depreciation 

At March 31, 2011 ........................................  
Charge for year .............................................  
Eliminated on disposals ................................  
At March 31, 2012 ........................................  

1,065.1 
301.1 
(90.3) 
1,275.9 

Net book value 

At March 31, 2012 ........................................  

4,882.4 

27.2 
3.3 
- 
30.5 

21.6 
3.4 
- 
25.0 

5.5 

2.2 
0.1 
- 
2.3 

2.0 
0.1 
- 
2.1 

0.2 

6,048.3 
317.6 
(107.2) 
6,258.7 

1,114.6 
309.2 
(90.3) 
1,333.5 

4,925.2 

19.1 
1.7 
- 
20.8 

14.8 
2.3 
- 
17.1 

3.7 

46.6 
0.2 
- 
46.8 

11.1 
2.3 
- 
13.4 

33.4 

146 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aircraft 
€M 

Hangar and 
Buildings 
€M 

Plant and 
Equipment 
€M 

Fixtures 
and 
Fittings 
€M 

Motor 
Vehicles 
€M 

Total 
€M 

Year ended March 31, 2011 
Cost 

At March 31, 2010 ........................................  
Additions in year ..........................................  
At March 31, 2011 ........................................  

5,069.6 
883.6 
5,953.2 

Depreciation 

At March 31, 2010 ........................................  
Charge for year .............................................  
At March 31, 2011 ........................................  

794.4 
270.7 
1,065.1 

Net book value 

At March 31, 2011 ........................................  

4,888.1 

39.2 
7.4 
46.6 

8.9 
2.2 
11.1 

35.5 

16.4 
2.7 
19.1 

12.3 
2.5 
14.8 

4.3 

23.7 
3.5 
27.2 

19.4 
2.2 
21.6 

5.6 

2.2 
- 
2.2 

1.9 
0.1 
2.0 

0.2 

5,151.1 
897.2 
6,048.3 

836.9 
277.7 
1,114.6 

4,933.7 

Aircraft 
€M 

Hangar and 
Buildings 
€M 

Plant and 
Equipment 
€M 

Fixtures 
and 
Fittings 
€M 

Motor 
Vehicles 
€M 

Total 
€M 

Year ended March 31, 2010 
Cost 

At March 31, 2009 ........................................  
Additions in year ..........................................  
Disposals in year ...........................................  
At March 31, 2010 ........................................  

4,220.5 
992.3 
(143.2) 
5,069.6 

Depreciation 

At March 31, 2009 ........................................  
Charge for year .............................................  
Eliminated on disposals ................................  
At March 31, 2010 ........................................  

618.3 
226.3 
(50.2) 
794.4 

Net book value 

38.5 
0.7 
- 
39.2 

7.0 
1.9 
- 
8.9 

At March 31, 2010 ........................................  

4,275.2 

30.3 

15.2 
1.2 
- 
16.4 

9.9 
2.4 
- 
12.3 

4.1 

20.2 
3.5 
- 
23.7 

14.8 
4.6 
- 
19.4 

4.3 

2.1 
0.1 
- 
2.2 

1.7 
0.2 
- 
1.9 

0.3 

4,296.5 
997.8 
(143.2) 
5,151.1 

651.7 
235.4 
(50.2) 
836.9 

4,314.2 

At March 31, 2012, aircraft with a net book value of €4,856.0 million (2011: €4,718.7 million; 2010: 
€3,863.0  million)  were  mortgaged  to  lenders  as  security  for  loans.  Under  the  security  arrangements  for  the 
Company‘s  new  Boeing  737-800  ―next  generation‖  aircraft,  the  Company  does  not  hold  legal  title  to  those 
aircraft while these loan amounts remain outstanding. 

At  March  31,  2012,  the  cost  and  net  book  value  of  aircraft  includes  €110.5  million  (2011:  €194.2 
million; 2010: €397.8 million) in respect of advance payments on aircraft. This amount is not depreciated. The 
cost  and  net  book  value  also  includes  capitalised  aircraft  maintenance,  aircraft  simulators  and  the  stock  of 
rotable spare parts.   

The net book value of assets held under finance leases at March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was €607.5 

million, €635.1 million and €422.8 million respectively. 

Sale proceeds of €27.2 million were generated from the disposal of spare engines during the year.  In 
fiscal  year  2010,  €89.2  million  in  sales  proceeds  comprised  €65.6  million  from  the  sale  of  three  aircraft  and 
€23.6 million in respect of the sale of spare engines and insurance proceeds from an aircraft damaged by a bird 
strike in 2009. 

There  were no Boeing 737-800 aircraft disposed of during the  year (2011: nil; 2010: 3). There is no 

agreement to dispose of further aircraft at future dates.  

During  the  2012  fiscal  year,  no  accelerated  depreciation  (2011:  nil;  2010:  nil)  arose  in  relation  to 

aircraft disposals or agreements to dispose of aircraft at future dates. 

147 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 

Intangible assets 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Landing rights ...........................................................................................................   46.8 

46.8 

46.8 

Landing  slots  were  acquired  with  the  acquisition  of  Buzz  Stansted  Limited  in  April  2003.  As  these 
landing  slots  have  no  expiry  date  and  are  expected  to  be  used  in  perpetuity,  they  are  considered  to  be  of 
indefinite  life  and  accordingly  are  not  amortised.  The  Company  also  considers  that  there  has  been  no 
impairment of the value of these rights to date. The recoverable amount of these rights has been determined on a 
value-in-use  basis,  using discounted cash-flow projections  for a twenty-year period for  each route that  has an 
individual landing right. The calculation of value-in-use is most sensitive to the operating margin and discount 
rate assumptions. Operating margins are based on the existing margins generated from these routes and adjusted 
for  any  known  trading  conditions.  The  trading  environment  is  subject  to  both  regulatory  and  competitive 
pressures  that  can  have  a  material  effect  on  the  operating  performance  of  the  business.  Foreseeable  events, 
however, are unlikely to result in a  change  of projections of a significant nature so as to result in the  landing 
rights‘  carrying  amounts  exceeding  their  recoverable  amounts.  These  projections  have  been  discounted  using 
weighted average cost of capital, estimated to be 7.7% for 2012, 7.3% for 2011 and 6.1% for 2010. 

4 

Available-for-sale financial assets 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Investment in Aer Lingus .........................................................................................   149.7 

114.0 

116.2 

As at March 31, 2012 Ryanair‘s total holding in Aer Lingus was 29.8% (2011: 29.8%; 2010: 29.8%). 
The  balance  sheet  value  of  €149.7  million  (2011:  €114.0  million;  2010:  €116.2  million)  reflects  the  market 
value of this investment as at March 31, 2012. In accordance with the Company‘s accounting policy, this asset is 
held at fair value with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive income following initial acquisition. 
All impairment losses are recognised in the income statement and any cumulative loss previously recognised in 
other comprehensive income  is transferred to the  income  statement once an impairment  is considered to have 
occurred. 

The  movement  on  the  available  for  sale  financial  asset  from  €114.0  million  at  March  31,  2011  to 
€149.7  million  at  March  31,  2012  is  comprised  of  a  gain  of  €35.7  million,  recognised  through  other 
comprehensive income, reflecting the increase in the share price of Aer Lingus from €0.72 per share at March 
31,  2011  to  €0.94  per  share  at  March  31,  2012.  All  impairment  losses  are  required  to  be  recognised  in  the 
income statement and are not subsequently reversed,  while gains are recognised through other comprehensive 
income.    The  investment  in  Aer  Lingus  has  in  prior  periods  been  impaired  to  €0.50  per  share.    In  fiscal  year 
2010, the Company recorded an impairment charge of €13.5 million on the income statement relating to its Aer 
Lingus shareholding. 

This investment is classified as available-for-sale, rather than as an investment in an associate, because 
the Company does not have the power to exercise any influence over the entity. The Company's determination 
that  it  does  not  have  any  influence  over  Aer  Lingus  through  its  minority  shareholding  has  been  based  on  the 
following factors, in particular:  

(i) 

Ryanair does not have any representation on the  Aer  Lingus Board of Directors, nor does it 

have a right to appoint a director;  

(ii) 

Ryanair does not participate in Aer Lingus‘ policy-making decisions, nor does it have a right 

to participate in such policy-making decisions;  

(iii) 

There are no material transactions between Ryanair and Aer Lingus, there is no interchange of 

personnel between the two companies and there is no sharing of technical information between the companies;  

148 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(iv) 

Aer Lingus and its significant shareholder (the Irish government: 25.1%) have openly opposed 

Ryanair‘s investment or participation in the company; 

(v) 

In  August  2007,  September  2007  and  November/December  2011,  Aer  Lingus  refused 
Ryanair‘s  attempt  to  assert  its  statutory  right  to  requisition  a  general  meeting  (a  legal  right  of  any  10% 
shareholder under Irish law).   

(vi) 

On April 15, 2011, the High Court in Dublin ruled that Aer Lingus was not obliged to accede 
to Ryanair‘s request that two additional resolutions (on the payment of a dividend and on payments to pension 
schemes) be put to vote at Aer Lingus‘ annual general meeting; and 

(vii)  

The  European  Commission  has  formally  found  that  Ryanair‘s  shareholding  in  Aer  Lingus 
does  not  grant  Ryanair  ―de  jure  or  de  facto  control  of  Aer  Lingus‖  and  that  ―Ryanair‘s  rights  as  a  minority 
shareholder…are  associated  exclusively  to  rights  related  to  the  protection  of  minority  shareholders‖ 
(Commission Decision Case No. COMP/M.4439 dated October 11, 2007). The European Commission‘s finding 
has  been  confirmed  by  the  European  Union's  General  Court  which  issued  a  decision  on  July  6,  2010  that  the 
European Commission was justified to use the required legal and factual standard in its refusal to order Ryanair 
to divest its minority shareholding in Aer Lingus and that, as part of that decision, Ryanair‘s shareholding did 
not  confer  control  of  Aer  Lingus  (Judgment  of  the  General  Court  (Third  Chamber)  Case  No.  T-411/07  dated 
July 6, 2010). 

On  December  1,  2008  Ryanair  made  a  second  offer  to  acquire  70.2%  of  the  ordinary  shares  of  Aer 
Lingus plc that it does not already own. However, the Company was unable to secure the shareholders‘ support 
and accordingly on January 28, 2009 withdrew its offer for Aer Lingus. 

The  United  Kingdom‘s  Office  of  Fair  Trading  (OFT)  wrote  to  Ryanair  in  September  2010,  advising 
that it intends to investigate Ryanair‘s minority stake  in Aer Lingus. Ryanair objected to this  investigation on 
the basis that the OFT‘s investigation became time-barred within four months from the European Commission‘s 
June 2007 decision to prohibit Ryanair‘s takeover of Aer Lingus. The OFT agreed in October 2010 to suspend 
its investigation pending the outcome of Ryanair‘s appeal against the OFT‘s investigation.  

On  July  28,  2011,  the  Competition  Appeal  Tribunal  ruled  that  the  OFT  was  not  time  barred  when  it 
attempted  in  September  2010  to  open  an  investigation  into  Ryanair‘s  2006  acquisition  of  a  minority  non-
controlling stake in Aer Lingus.  Ryanair appealed the Competition Appeal Tribunal‘s decision.  On November 
24,  2011,  the  UK  Court  of  Appeal  ordered  a  stay  of  the  OFT‘s  investigation  pending  the  Courts  review  of 
whether the OFT‘s investigation  was time barred.  On May 22, 2012, the Court of Appeal  found that the OFT 
was  not  time  barred  to  investigate  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  in  September  2010.    Ryanair 
subsequently sought permission to appeal that ruling to the UK Supreme Court, but permission was refused. On 
June  15,  2012,  the  OFT  referred  the  investigation  of  Ryanair‘s  minority  stake  in  Aer  Lingus  to  the  UK 
Competition  Commission.  Ryanair  welcomed  the  decision  by  the  OFT  to  refer  the  case  to  the  Competition 
Commission  and  Ryanair  anticipates  that  the  Competition  Commission  will  agree  with  the  decision  of  the 
European Commission in 2007 that since Ryanair has neither ―de factor or de jure control‖ in Aer Lingus, that it 
should  not  be  forced  to  sell  down  its  minority  stake.    The  Competition  Commission  could  order  Ryanair  to 
divest some or all of its shares in Aer Lingus, as a result of which Ryanair could suffer significant losses due to 
the negative impact on attainable prices of the forced sale of such a significant portion of Aer Lingus‘ shares. 

On  June  19,  2012,  Ryanair  made  a  third  all  cash  offer  to  acquire  all  of  the  ordinary  shares  of  Aer 

Lingus it did not own at a price of €1.30 per ordinary share. 

149 

 
 
 
 
5 

Derivative financial instruments 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has responsibility for monitoring the treasury policies 
and objectives of the Company, which include controls over the procedures used to manage the main financial 
risks  arising  from  the  Company‘s  operations.  Such  risks  comprise  commodity  price,  foreign  exchange  and 
interest rate risks. The Company uses financial instruments to manage exposures arising from these risks. These 
instruments  include  borrowings,  cash  deposits  and  derivatives  (principally  jet  fuel  derivatives,  interest  rate 
swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts). It is the Company‘s policy 
that no speculative trading in financial instruments takes place. 

The Company‘s historical fuel risk management policy has been to hedge between 70% and 90% of the 
forecast rolling annual volumes required to ensure that the future cost per gallon of fuel is locked in. This policy 
was adopted to prevent the Company being exposed, in the short term, to adverse movements in global jet fuel 
prices. However, when deemed to be in the best interests of the Company, it may deviate from this policy. At 
March 31, 2012, the Company had hedged approximately 90% of its estimated fuel exposure for the year ending 
March  31,  2013.  At  March  31,  2011,  the  Company  had  hedged  approximately  77%  of  its  estimated  fuel 
exposure for the year ending March 31, 2012. At March 31, 2010, the Company had hedged approximately 85% 
of its estimated fuel exposure for the year ending March 31, 2011.  

Foreign currency risk in relation to the Company‘s trading operations largely arises in relation to non-
euro currencies. These currencies are primarily U.K. pounds sterling and the U.S. dollar. The Company manages 
this risk by matching pounds sterling revenues against pounds sterling costs. Surplus pounds sterling revenues 
are  sometimes  used  to  fund  forward  foreign  exchange  contracts  to  hedge  U.S.  dollar  currency  exposures  that 
arise  in  relation  to  fuel,  maintenance,  aviation  insurance,  and  capital  expenditure  costs  and  excess  pounds 
sterling are converted into euro. Additionally, the Company swaps euro for U.S. dollars using forward currency 
contracts to cover any expected dollar outflows for these costs. From time to time, the Company also swaps euro 
for  U.K.  pounds  sterling  using  forward  currency  contracts  to  hedge  expected  future  surplus  pounds  sterling. 
From time to time the Company also enters into cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge against fluctuations 
in foreign exchange rates and interest rates in respect of US dollar denominated borrowings.         

The  Company‘s  objective  for  interest  rate  risk  management  is  to  reduce  interest-rate  risk  through  a 
combination  of  financial  instruments,  which  lock  in  interest  rates  on  debt  and  by  matching  a  proportion  of 
floating  rate  assets  with  floating  rate  liabilities.  In  addition,  the  Company  aims  to  achieve  the  best  available 
return on investments of surplus cash – subject to credit risk and liquidity constraints. Credit risk is managed by 
limiting the aggregate  amount and duration of exposure to any one counterparty based  on third-party  market-
based  ratings.  In  line  with  the  above  interest  rate  risk  management  strategy,  the  Company  has  entered  into  a 
series  of  interest  rate  swaps  to  hedge  against  fluctuations  in  interest  rates  for  certain  floating  rate  financial 
arrangements  and  certain  other  obligations.  The  Company  has  also  entered  into  floating  rate  financing  for 
certain aircraft, which is matched with floating rate deposits. Additionally, certain cash deposits have been set 
aside  as  collateral  for  the  counterparty‘s  exposure  to  risk  of  fluctuations  on  certain  derivative  and  other 
financing  arrangements  with  Ryanair  (restricted  cash).  At  March  31,  2012,  such  restricted  cash  amounted  to 
€35.1 million (2011: €42.9 million; 2010: €67.8 million). Additional numerical information on these swaps and 
on  other  derivatives  held  by  the  Company  is  set  out  below  and  in  Note  11  to  the  consolidated  financial 
statements.  

The  Company  utilises  a  range  of  derivatives  designed  to  mitigate  these  risks.  All  of  the  above 
derivatives  have  been  accounted  for  at  fair  value  in  the  Company‘s  balance  sheet  and  have  been  utilised  to 
hedge  against  these  particular  risks  arising  in  the  normal  course  of  the  Company‘s  business.  All  have  been 
designated as hedging derivatives for the purposes of IAS 39 and are fully set out below.  

150 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative  financial  instruments,  all  of  which  have  been  recognised  at  fair  value  in  the  Company‘s 

balance sheet, are analysed as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Current assets 
Gains on cash-flow hedging instruments – maturing within one year .................................................  

231.9 
231.9 

Non-current assets 
Gains on cash flow hedging instruments – maturing after one year .....................................................  

3.3 
3.3 

Total derivative assets .......................................................................................................................  

235.2 

Current liabilities 
Losses on cash flow hedging instruments – maturing within one year ................................................  

(28.2) 
(28.2) 

Non-current liabilities 
Losses on cash flow hedging instruments – maturing after one year ...................................................  

Total derivative liabilities ..................................................................................................................  

Net derivative financial instrument position at year-end  ..............................................................  

153.4 

All of the above gains and losses were unrealised at the period-end. 

The table above includes the following derivative arrangements: 

(53.6) 
(53.6) 
(81.8) 

383.8 
383.8 

23.9 
23.9 

407.7 

(125.4) 
(125.4) 

(8.3) 
(8.3) 
(133.7) 

274.0 

122.6 
122.6 

22.8 
 22.8 

145.4 

(41.0) 
(41.0) 

(35.4) 
(35.4) 
(76.4) 

69.0 

Interest rate swaps (a) 
Less than one year (b)...………………………………………………..….. 
Between one and five years……………………………………………….. 
After five years……………………………………………………………. 

Foreign currency forward contracts (a) 
Less than one year…………………………………………………………. 
Between one and five years……………………………………………….. 
After five years……………………………………………………………. 

Commodity forward contracts 
Less than one 
year(c)…………………………………………………………. 

Net derivative position at year end……………………………………… 

Fair value 
2012 
€M 

Fair value 
2011 
€M 

Fair value 
2010 
€M 

(26.7) 
(53.8) 
0.2 
(80.3) 

86.1 
3.0 
0.3 
89.4 

144.3 
144.3 
153.4 

(61.7) 
7.7 
16.2 
(37.8) 

(63.7) 
(8.2) 
(0.1) 
(72.0) 

383.8 
383.8 
274.0 

(41.0) 
(38.6) 
3.2 
(76.4) 

80.0 
   22.8 
- 
102.8 

42.6 
42.6 
69.0 

(a)  Additional information in relation to the above interest rate swaps and forward currency contracts (i.e. notional value 

and weighted average interest rates) can be found in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements. 

(b)  €26.7  million  interest  rate  swap  financial  liabilities  falling  due  within  one  year,  includes  €2.1  million  derivative 
financial liabilities, falling due within one year, in respect of cross currency interest rate swaps (see Note 11 to the 
consolidated financial statements). 

(c)  €144.3 million commodity forward contracts falling due within one year, includes €145.8 million jet fuel derivative 
financial  assets  and  €1.5  million  carbon  swap  financial  liability  (see  Note  11  of  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements). 

Interest rate swaps are primarily used to convert a portion of the Company‘s floating rate exposures on 
borrowings and operating leases into fixed rate exposures and are set so as to match exactly the critical terms of 
the underlying debt or lease being hedged (i.e. notional principal, interest rate settings, re-pricing dates). These 

151 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
are  all  classified  as  cash-flow  hedges  of  the  forecasted  variable  interest  payments  and  rentals  due  on  the 
Company‘s underlying debt and operating leases and have been determined to be highly effective in achieving 
offsetting  cash  flows.  Accordingly,  no  ineffectiveness  has  been  recorded  in  the  income  statement  relating  to 
these hedges in the current and preceding years. 

The  Company  also  utilises  cross  currency  interest  rate  swaps  to  manage  exposures  to  fluctuations  in 
foreign  exchange  rates  of  US  dollar  denominated  floating  rate  borrowings,  together  with  managing  the 
exposures  to  fluctuations  in  interest  rates  on  these  US  dollar  denominated  floating  rate  borrowings.  Cross 
currency interest rate  swaps are primarily used to convert a portion of the Company‘s US dollar denominated 
debt to euro and floating rate interest exposures into fixed rate exposures and are set so as to match exactly  the 
critical terms of the underlying debt being hedged (i.e. notional principal, interest rate settings, re-pricing dates). 
These  are  all  classified  as  cash-flow  hedges  of  the  forecasted  US  dollar  variable  interest  payments  on  the 
Company‘s underlying debt and have been determined to be highly effective in achieving offsetting cash flows. 
Accordingly,  no  ineffectiveness  has  been  recorded  in  the  income  statement  relating  to  these  hedges  in  the 
current year.  

Foreign currency forward contracts are utilised in a number of ways: forecast U.K. pounds sterling and 
euro  revenue  receipts  are  converted  into  U.S.  dollars  to  hedge  against  forecasted  U.S.  dollar  payments 
principally  for  jet  fuel,  insurance,  capital  expenditure  and  other  aircraft  related  costs.  These  are  classified  as 
either  cash-flow  or  fair-value  hedges  of  forecasted  and  committed  U.S.  dollar  payments  and  have  been 
determined to be highly effective in offsetting variability in future cash flows and fair values arising from the 
fluctuation  in  the  U.S.  dollar  to  pounds  sterling  and  euro  exchange  rates  for  the  forecast  and  committed  U.S. 
dollar purchases. Because the timing of anticipated payments and the settlement of the related derivatives is very 
closely  coordinated,  no  ineffectiveness  has  been  recorded  for  these  foreign  currency  forward  contracts  in  the 
current or preceding years (the underlying hedged items and hedging instruments have been consistently closely 
matched).  

The Company also utilises jet fuel forward contracts to manage exposure to jet fuel prices. These are 
used to hedge the Company‘s forecasted fuel purchases, and are arranged so as to match as closely as possible 
against  forecasted  fuel  delivery  and  payment  requirements.  These  are  classified  as  cash-flow  hedges  of 
forecasted fuel payments and have been determined to be highly effective in offsetting variability in future cash 
flows arising from fluctuations in jet fuel prices. No ineffectiveness has been recorded on these arrangements in 
the current or preceding years.  

The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) began operating for airlines on 1 January 
2012. In order to manage the risks associated  with the  fluctuation  in the price  of carbon emission credits, the 
Company entered into swap arrangements to fix the cost of a portion of their forecasted carbon emission credit 
purchases.  The  Company  can  forecast  its  requirement  for  carbon  credits  as  they  are  directly  linked  to  its 
consumption of jet fuel. These instruments have been classified as cash-flow hedges and no ineffectiveness has 
been recorded in the current year. 

The  (gains)/losses  on  the  aircraft  firm  commitments  are  recognised  as  part  of  the  capitalised  cost  of 
aircraft additions,  within property, plant and equipment.  The  (gains)/losses on interest rate  swaps, commodity 
forward contracts and forward currency contracts (excluding aircraft firm commitments) are recognised in the 
income statement when the hedged transaction occurs.  

The following table indicates the amounts that were reclassified from other comprehensive income into 
the income statement, analysed by income statement category, in respect of cash-flow hedges realised during the 
year:  

Year ended March 31,  
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

2012 
€M 

Commodity forward contracts 
284.2 
Recognised in fuel and oil operating expenses, net of tax  ............................................  
Interest rate swaps 
Recognised in finance expense, net of tax .....................................................................  
(22.7) 
Foreign currency forward contracts 
(6.5) 
Recognised in fuel and oil operating expenses, net of tax .............................................  
255.0 

(39.5) 

21.2 

3.5 
(14.8) 

(20.2) 

(32.9) 

2.3 
(50.8) 

152 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table indicates the amounts that were reclassified from other comprehensive income into 
the  capitalised  cost  of  aircraft  additions  within  property,  plant  and  equipment,  in  respect  of  cash-flow  hedges 
realised during the year:  

Year ended March 31,  
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

2012 
€M 

Foreign currency forward contracts 
11.1 
Recognised in property plant and equipment – aircraft additions ..................................  
11.1 

(15.2) 
(15.2) 

(16.7) 
(16.7) 

The  following  tables  indicate  the  periods  in  which  cash  flows  associated  with  derivatives  that  are 

designated as cash-flow hedges were expected to occur, as of March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010: 

Carrying 
Amount 
€M 

Expected 
Cash 
Flows 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
  €M 

2016 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

At March 31, 2012 
Interest rate swaps ......................................................................................................................  
(80.3) 
U.S. dollar currency forward 
89.4 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
144.3 
Commodity forward contracts ....................................................................................................  
153.4 

0.9 
- 
(22.8) 

86.0 
144.3 
207.6 

90.1 
144.3 
163.9 

(22.7) 

(70.5) 

(23.7) 

(14.4) 

0.9 
- 
(13.5) 

(7.4) 

0.9 
- 
(6.5) 

(2.3) 

1.4 
- 
(0.9) 

Carrying 
Amount 
€M 

Expected 
Cash 
Flows 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
  €M 

2015 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

At March 31, 2011 
Interest rate swaps ......................................................................................................................  
(37.8) 
(72.0) 
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
383.8 
Commodity forward contracts ....................................................................................................  
274.0 

- 
(18.1) 

383.8 
300.5 

383.8 
292.4 

(19.6) 
(63.7) 

(18.7) 
(72.7) 

(9.5) 
(8.6) 

(1.6) 
(0.1) 

- 
(1.7) 

2.8 
(0.1) 

- 
2.7 

9.2 
(0.2) 

- 
9.0 

Carrying 
Amount 
€M 

Expected 
Cash 
Flows 
€M 

2011 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
  €M 

2014 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

At March 31, 2010 
Interest rate swaps ......................................................................................................................  
(76.4) 
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
99.8 
U.K. pounds sterling currency 
forward contracts ........................................................................................................................  
3.0 
42.6 
Commodity forward contracts ....................................................................................................  

3.0 
42.6 

3.0 
42.6 

(149.2) 

(44.2) 

(37.8) 

107.9 

83.4 

24.4 

- 
- 

(23.9) 

(17.8) 

(25.5) 

0.1 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

69.0 

4.3 

84.8 

(13.4) 

(23.8) 

(17.8) 

(25.5) 

153 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following tables indicate the periods in which cash flows associated with derivatives designated as 

cash-flow hedges were expected to impact profit or loss, as of March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:  

Carrying 
Amount 
€M 

Expected 
Cash 
flows 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
  €M 

2016 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

(80.3) 

At March 31, 2012 
Interest rate swaps ......................................................................................................................  
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
82.5 
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts capitalised in property 
plant and equipment – aircraft 
6.9 
additions .....................................................................................................................................  
144.3 
Commodity forward contracts ....................................................................................................  

6.9 
144.3 

6.9 
144.3 

(70.5) 

(23.7) 

(22.7) 

79.1 

83.2 

0.9 

- 
- 

(14.4) 

0.9 

- 
- 

(7.4) 

0.9 

- 
- 

(2.3) 

1.4 

- 
- 

153.4 

163.9 

207.6 

(22.8) 

(13.5) 

(6.5) 

(0.9) 

Carrying 
Amount 
€M 

Expected 
Cash 
flows 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
  €M 

2015 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

(37.8) 

At March 31, 2011 
Interest rate swaps ......................................................................................................................  
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts capitalised in property 
plant and equipment – aircraft 
3.7 
additions .....................................................................................................................................  
383.8 
Commodity forward contracts ....................................................................................................  

(19.6) 

(18.7) 

(76.3) 

(68.3) 

(9.5) 

(7.6) 

(75.7) 

3.6 
383.8 
292.4 

4.6 
383.8 
300.5 

(1.0) 
- 
(18.1) 

274.0 

(1.6) 

(0.1) 

- 
- 
(1.7) 

2.8 

(0.1) 

- 
- 
2.7 

9.2 

(0.2) 

- 
- 
9.0 

Carrying 
Amount 
€M 

Expected 
Cash 
flows 
€M 

2011 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
  €M 

2014 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

(76.4) 

(44.2) 

(149.2) 

At March 31, 2010 
Interest rate swaps ......................................................................................................................  
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
40.3 
U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts capitalised in property 
plant and equipment – aircraft 
additions .....................................................................................................................................  
59.5 
U.K. pounds sterling currency 
forward contracts ........................................................................................................................  
3.0 
42.6 
Commodity forward contracts ....................................................................................................  

3.0 
42.6 

3.0 
42.6 

(37.8) 

18.5 

44.8 

63.3 

38.6 

44.6 

5.9 

- 
- 

(23.9) 

(17.8) 

(25.5) 

0.1 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

69.0 

4.3 

84.8 

(13.4) 

(23.8) 

(17.8) 

(25.5) 

154 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6 

Inventories 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Consumables .............................................................................................................   2.8 

2.7 

2.5 

In  the  view  of  the  directors,  there  are  no  material  differences  between  the  replacement  cost  of 

inventories and the balance sheet amounts. 

7 

Other assets  

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Prepayments ............................................................................................................  
Interest receivable ...................................................................................................  

60.0 
4.9 
64.9 

94.5 
4.9 
99.4 

74.1 
6.5 
80.6 

All amounts fall due within one year. 

8 

  Trade receivables 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Trade receivables ..............................................................................................................  51.6 
(0.1) 
Provision for impairment ..................................................................................................  
51.5 

50.7 
(0.1) 
50.6 

44.4 
(0.1) 
44.3 

All amounts fall due within one year. 

The movement in the provision for trade receivable impairments is as follows: 

Balance at 
beginning 
of year 
€M 

Additions 
charged to 
expenses 
€M 

Write-offs 
€M 

Balance at end 
of year 
€M 

Year ended March 31, 2012 ..................................  
Year ended March 31, 2011 ..................................  
Year ended March 31, 2010 ..................................  

0.1 
0.1 
0.1 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

0.1 
0.1 
0.1 

No  individual  customer  accounted  for more than 10% of our accounts receivable at March 31, 2012, 

March 31, 2011 or at March 31, 2010. 

At  March  31,  2012  €1.0  million  (2011:  €0.7  million;  2010:  €0.6  million)  of  our  total  accounts 
receivable balance were past due, of which €0.1 million (2011: €0.1 million; 2010: €0.1 million) was impaired 
and  provided  for  and  €0.9  million  (2011:  €0.6  million;  2010:  €0.5  million)  was  considered  past  due  but  not 
impaired.  

155 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9 

Restricted cash 

Restricted cash consists of €35.1 million (2011: €42.9 million; 2010: €67.8 million) placed on deposit 
as  collateral  for  certain  derivative  financial  instruments  and  other  financing  arrangements  entered  into  by  the 
Company. 

10 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities 

2012 
€M 

At  March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Accruals .............................................................................................................................  
327.0 
Taxation .............................................................................................................................  
228.8 
681.4 
Unearned revenue ..............................................................................................................  
1,237.2 

273.2 
185.2 
765.9 
1,224.3 

Taxation comprises: 

2010 
€M 

260.3 
282.3 
545.6 
1,088.2 

2012 
€M 

At  March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

PAYE (payroll taxes) .........................................................................................................  5.1 
Value Added Tax ...............................................................................................................  - 
223.7 
Other tax (principally air passenger duty) ..........................................................................  

228.8 

5.3 
- 
179.9 

185.2 

4.3 
1.7 
276.3 

282.3 

11 

Financial instruments and financial risk management 

The  Company  utilises  financial  instruments  to  reduce  exposures  to  market  risks  throughout  its 
business.  Borrowings,  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  liquid  investments  are  used  to  finance  the  Company‘s 
operations.  Derivative  financial  instruments  are  contractual  agreements  with  a  value  that  reflects  price 
movements  in  an  underlying  asset.  The  Company  uses  derivative  financial  instruments,  principally  jet  fuel 
derivatives,  interest  rate  swaps,  cross-currency  interest  rate  swaps  and  forward  foreign  exchange  contracts  to 
manage commodity risks, interest rate risks and currency exposures and to achieve the desired profile of fixed 
and variable rate borrowings and leases in appropriate currencies. It is the Company‘s policy that no speculative 
trading in financial instruments shall take place. 

The main risks attaching to the Company‘s financial instruments, the Company‘s strategy and approach 
to  managing  these  risks,  and  the  details  of  the  derivatives  employed  to  hedge  against  these  risks  have  been 
disclosed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. 

156 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) 

Financial assets and financial liabilities – fair values 

The carrying value and fair value of the Company‘s financial assets by class and measurement category 

at March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows: 

Available 
For Sale 
€M 

Cash-Flow 
Hedges 
€M 

Loans and 
Receivables 
€M 

Total 
Carrying 
Value 
€M 

Total Fair 
Value 
€M 

At March 31, 2012 
- 
Available-for-sale financial assets ..............................................................................................  
Cash and cash equivalents ..........................................................................................................  
2,708.3 
Financial asset: cash > 3 months .................................................................................................  
772.2 
Restricted cash ............................................................................................................................  
35.1 
Derivative financial instruments 
- 
-US dollar currency forward  contacts 
- Jet fuel derivative contracts ......................................................................................................  
- 
Trade receivables ........................................................................................................................  
51.5 
4.9 
Other Assets ................................................................................................................................  

149.7 
- 
- 
- 

89.4 
145.8 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

Total financial assets at March 31, 2012 .....................................................................................  
3,572.0 

149.7 

235.2 

149.7 
2,708.3 
772.2 
35.1 

89.4 
145.8 
51.5 
4.9 

149.7 
2,708.3 
772.2 
35.1 

89.4 
145.8 
51.5 
4.9 

3,956.9 

3,956.9 

Available 
For Sale 

€M 

Cash-Flow 
Hedges 

Loans and 
Receivables 

€M 

€M 

Total 
Carrying 
Value 

€M 

Total Fair 
Value 

€M 

At March 31, 2011 
Available-for-sale financial assets ..............................................................................................  
Cash and cash equivalents ..........................................................................................................  
Financial asset: cash > 3 months .................................................................................................  
Restricted cash ............................................................................................................................  
Derivative financial instruments 
- Jet fuel derivative contracts ......................................................................................................  
- Interest rate swaps ....................................................................................................................  
Trade receivables ........................................................................................................................  
Other Assets ................................................................................................................................  

- 
2,028.3 
869.4 
42.9 

114.0 
- 
- 
- 

383.8 
23.9 
- 
- 

- 
- 
50.6 
4.9 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

Total financial assets at March 31, 2011 .....................................................................................  

2,996.1 

407.7 

114.0 

Available 
For Sale 
€M 

Cash-Flow 
Hedges 
€M 

Loans and 
Receivables 
€M 

116.2 
- 
- 
- 

At March 31, 2010 
Available-for-sale financial assets ..............................................................................................  
Cash and cash equivalents ..........................................................................................................  
Financial asset: cash > 3 months .................................................................................................  
Restricted cash ............................................................................................................................  
Derivative financial instruments 
- U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
- U.K. pounds sterling currency forward 
contracts….……………………………... 
-Jet fuel derivative contracts .......................................................................................................  
Trade receivables ........................................................................................................................  
Other assets .................................................................................................................................  

- 
1,477.9 
1,267.7 
67.8 

3.0 
42.6 
- 
- 

- 
- 
44.3 
6.5 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

99.8 

- 

- 

Total financial assets at March 31, 2010 .....................................................................................  

2,864.2 

145.4 

116.2 

157 

114.0 
2,028.3 
869.4 
42.9 

383.8 
23.9 
50.6 
4.9 

114.0 
2,028.3 
869.4 
42.9 

383.8 
23.9 
50.6 
4.9 

3,517.8 

3,517.8 

Total 
Carrying 
Value 
€M 

Total Fair 
Value 
€M 

116.2 
1,477.9 
1,267.7 
67.8 

116.2 
1,477.9 
1,267.7 
67.8 

99.8 

3.0 
42.6 
44.3 
6.5 

99.8 

3.0 
42.6 
44.3 
6.5 

3,125.8 

3,125.8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The carrying values and fair values of the Company‘s financial liabilities by class and category were as 

follows: 

Amortised 
Cost 
€M 

Cash-Flow 
Hedges 
€M 

Fair-Value 
Hedges 
€M 

Total 
Carrying 
Value 
€M 

Total Fair 
Value 
€M 

At March 31, 2012 
- 
Long-term debt ...........................................................................................................................  
Derivative financial instruments 
-Interest rate swaps .....................................................................................................................  
- 
-Carbon swaps ............................................................................................................................  
- 
Trade payables ............................................................................................................................  
- 
Accrued expenses .......................................................................................................................  
- 
Total financial liabilities at March 31, 2012 ...............................................................................  

- 
- 
181.2 
327.0 
4,133.4 

80.3 
1.5 
- 
- 
81.8 

3,625.2 

- 

At March 31, 2011 
- 
Long-term debt ...........................................................................................................................  
Derivative financial instruments 
- U.S. dollar currency forward 
- 
contracts ......................................................................................................................................  
- 
-Interest rate swaps .....................................................................................................................  
- 
Trade payables ............................................................................................................................  
- 
Accrued expenses .......................................................................................................................  
- 
Total financial liabilities at March 31, 2011 ...............................................................................  

- 
- 
150.8 
273.2 
4,073.4 

72.0 
61.7 
- 
- 
133.7 

3,649.4 

- 

At March 31, 2010 
Long-term debt ...........................................................................................................................  
- 
Derivative financial instruments 
- Interest rate swaps ....................................................................................................................  
- 
Trade payables ............................................................................................................................  
- 
- 
Accrued expenses .......................................................................................................................  
- 
Total financial liabilities at March 31, 2010 ...............................................................................  

- 
154.0 
260.3 
3,370.5 

76.4 
- 
- 
76.4 

2,956.2 

- 

3,625.2 

3,665.4 

80.3 
1.5 
181.2 
327.0 
4,215.2 

80.3 
1.5 
181.2 
327.0 
4,255.4 

3,649.4 

3,621.1 

72.0 
61.7 
150.8 
273.2 
4,207.1 

72.0 
61.7 
150.8 
273.2 
4,178.8 

2,956.2 

2,955.8 

76.4 
154.0 
260.3 
3,446.9 

76.4 
154.0 
260.3 
3,446.5 

Estimation of fair values 

Fair  value  is  the  amount  at  which  a  financial  instrument  could  be  exchanged  in  an  arm‘s  length 
transaction between informed and willing parties, other than as part of a forced liquidation sale. The following 
methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each material class of the Company‘s financial 
instruments: 

Cash and liquid resources: Carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of 
these  instruments.  Cash  and  cash  resources  comprise  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  short-term  investments  and 
restricted cash. 

Fixed-rate  long-term  debt:  The  repayments  which  Ryanair  is  committed  to  make  have  been 
discounted at the relevant market rates of interest applicable (including credit spreads) at March 31, 2012, 2011, 
and 2010 which would be payable to a third party to assume the obligations. 

Derivatives  –  interest  rate  swaps:  Discounted  cash-flow  analyses  have  been  used  to  determine  the 
estimated amount Ryanair would receive or pay to terminate the contracts. Discounted cash-flow analyses are 
based on forward interest rates. 

Derivatives  – currency forwards, aircraft fuel contracts and carbon swaps:  A comparison of the 
contracted rate to the market rate for contracts providing a similar risk management profile at March 31, 2012, 
2011 and 2010 has been made. 

158 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The table below analyses financial instruments carried at fair value in the balance sheet categorised by 

the type of valuation method used. The different valuation levels are defined as follows: 

  Level 1: Inputs are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments. 

  Level  2:  Inputs  are  based  on  quoted  prices  for  identical  or  similar  instruments  in  markets  that  are  not 
active, quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, and model-based valuation techniques for 
which  all  significant  assumptions  are  observable  in  the  market  or  can  be  corroborated  by  observable 
market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. 

  Level 3: Inputs for the asset or liability are not based on observable market data. 

Level 1 
€M 

Level 2 
€M 

Level 3 
€M 

Total 
€M 

At March 31, 2012 
Assets measured at fair value 
Available-for-sale financial asset .............................................................................  
Cash-flow hedges – US dollar currency forward contracts ......................................  
Cash-flow hedges – jet fuel derivative contracts ......................................................  

149.7 
- 
- 
149.7 

Liabilities measured at fair value 
Cash-flow hedges – interest rate swaps ....................................................................  
Cash-flow hedges – carbon swaps............................................................................  

- 
- 
- 

- 
89.4 
145.8 
235.2 

(80.3) 
(1.5) 
(81.8) 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

149.7 
89.4 
145.8 
384.9 

(80.3) 
(1.5) 
(81.8) 

During the year ended March 31, 2012, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value 

measurements, and no transfers into or out of Level 3 fair-value measurement. 

Level 1 
€M 

Level 2 
€M 

Level 3 
€M 

Total 
€M 

At March 31, 2011 
Assets measured at fair value 
Available-for-sale financial asset .............................................................................  
Cash-flow hedges – jet fuel derivative contracts ......................................................  
Cash-flow hedges – interest rate swaps ....................................................................  

114.0 
- 
- 
114.0 

Liabilities measured at fair value 
Cash-flow hedges – US dollar currency forward contracts ......................................  
Cash-flow hedges – interest rate swaps ....................................................................  

- 
- 
- 

- 
383.8 
23.9 
407.7 

(72.0) 
(61.7) 
(133.7) 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

114.0 
383.8 
23.9 
521.7 

(72.0) 
(61.7) 
(133.7) 

During the year ended March 31, 2011, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value 

measurements, and no transfers into or out of Level 3 fair-value measurement. 

Level 1 
€M 

Level 2 
€M 

Level 3 
€M 

Total 
€M 

At March 31, 2010 
Assets measured at fair value 
Available-for-sale financial asset .............................................................................  
Cash-flow hedges – US dollar currency forward contracts ......................................  
Cash-flow hedges – GBP currency forward contracts ..............................................  
Cash-flow hedges – jet fuel derivative contracts ......................................................  

116.2 
- 
- 
- 
116.2 

Liabilities measured at fair value 
Cash-flow hedges – interest rate swaps ....................................................................  

- 
- 

- 
99.8 
3.0 
42.6 
145.4 

(76.4) 
(76.4) 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

116.2 
99.8 
3.0 
42.6 
261.6 

(76.4) 
(76.4) 

During the year ended March 31, 2010, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value 

measurements, and no transfers into or out of Level 3 fair-value measurement. 

159 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(b) 

Commodity risk 

The Company‘s exposure to price risk in this regard is primarily for jet fuel used in the normal course 

of operations. 

At the year-end, the Company had the following jet fuel and carbon arrangements in place: 

Carbon swaps – fair value ........................................................................................   (1.5) 
Jet fuel forward contracts – fair value ......................................................................  145.8 
144.3 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

- 
383.8 
383.8 

2010 
€M 

- 
42.6 
42.6 

All of the above commodity contracts mature within the year and are matched against highly probable 

forecast commodity cash flows. 

(c) 

Maturity and interest rate risk profile of financial assets and financial liabilities 

At  March  31,  2012,  the  Company  had  total  borrowings  of  €3,625.2  million  (2011:  €3,649.4  million; 
2010:  €2,956.2  million)  from  various  financial  institutions,  provided  primarily  on  the  basis  of  guarantees 
granted by the Export-Import Bank of the United States to finance the acquisition of 199 Boeing 737-800 ―next 
generation‖  aircraft  (2011:185;  2010:151).  The  guarantees  are  secured  with  a  first  fixed  mortgage  on  the 
delivered aircraft. The remaining long-term debt relates to 30 aircraft held under finance leases (2011: 30; 2010: 
20), 6 aircraft financed by way of other commercial debt (2011: 6; 2010: 6) and aircraft simulators.  

The  maturity  profile  of  the  Company‘s  financial  liabilities  (excluding  aircraft  provisions,  trade 

payables and accrued expenses) at March 31, 2012 was as follows: 

Weighted 
average 
fixed rate 
(%) 

2.94% 

3.96% 

3.59% 
2.81% 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
€M 

2016 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

Total 
€M 

78.9 

81.8 

84.7 

87.5 

392.8 

725.7 

154.7 

159.0 

161.5 

140.2 

675.2 

1,290.6 

233.6 
- 
233.6 

240.8 
- 
240.8 

246.2 
39.8 
286.0 

227.7 
- 
227.7 

1,068.0 
254.4 
1,322.4 

2,016.3 
294.2 
2,310.5 

238.5 

245.9 

251.4 

230.0 

1,127.6 

2,093.4 

(154.7) 

(159.0) 

(161.5) 

(140.2) 

(675.2) 

(1,290.6) 

1.47% 
2.43% 
1.85% 

83.8 
51.0 
134.8 
368.4 

86.9 
53.4 
140.3 
381.1 

89.9 
55.8 
145.7 
431.7 

89.8 
67.5 
157.3 
385.0 

452.4 
284.2 
736.6 
2,059.0 

802.8 
511.9 
1,314.7 
3,625.2 

Fixed rate 
Secured long term-debt............... 
Debt swapped from floating to 

fixed......................................... 

Secured long-term debt after 

swaps........................................ 
Finance leases.............................. 
Total fixed rate debt.................... 

Floating rate 
Secured long-term debt............... 
Debt swapped from floating to 

fixed......................................... 

Secured long-term debt after 

swaps........................................ 
Finance leases.............................. 
Total floating rate debt................ 
Total financial liabilities............. 

All of the above debt maturing after 2016 will mature between 2016 and 2024. 

160 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  maturity  profile  of  the  Company‘s  financial  liabilities  (excluding  aircraft  provisions,  trade 

payables and accrued expenses) at March 31, 2011 was as follows: 

Weighted 
average 
fixed rate 
(%) 

3.03% 

4.12% 

3.81% 
2.80% 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

Total 
€M 

57.4 

58.3 

60.5 

62.7 

251.9 

490.8 

138.2 

142.0 

146.0 

148.0 

692.0 

1,266.2 

195.6 
- 
195.6 

200.3 
- 
200.3 

206.5 
- 
206.5 

210.7 
38.9 
249.6 

943.9 
247.7 
1,191.6 

1,757.0 
286.6 
2,043.6 

230.6 

237.5 

244.9 

250.4 

1,348.1 

2,311.5 

(138.2) 

(142.0) 

(146.0) 

(148.0) 

(692.0) 

(1,266.2) 

1.57% 
2.39% 
1.86% 

92.4 
48.7 
141.1 
336.7 

95.5 
51.0 
146.5 
346.8 

98.9 
53.4 
152.3 
358.8 

102.4 
55.8 
158.2 
407.8 

656.1 
351.6 
1,007.7 
2,199.3 

1,045.3 
560.5 
1,605.8 
3,649.4 

Fixed rate 
Secured long term-debt............... 
Debt swapped from floating to 

fixed......................................... 

Secured long-term debt after 

swaps........................................ 
Finance leases.............................. 
Total fixed rate debt.................... 

Floating rate 
Secured long-term debt............... 
Debt swapped from floating to 

fixed......................................... 

Secured long-term debt after 

swaps........................................ 
Finance leases.............................. 
Total floating rate debt................ 
Total financial liabilities............. 

All of the above debt maturing after 2015 will mature between 2015 and 2023. 

The  maturity  profile  of  the  Company‘s  financial  liabilities  (excluding  aircraft  provisions,  trade 

payables and accrued expenses) at March 31, 2010 was as follows: 

Weighted 
average 
fixed rate 
(%) 

3.03% 

4.68% 

4.06% 
2.63% 

2011 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

Total 
€M 

55.4 

57.4 

58.4 

60.5 

100.2 

102.7 

105.4 

108.3 

155.6 
- 
155.6 

160.1 
- 
160.1 

163.8 
- 
163.8 

168.8 
- 
168.8 

314.5 

485.1 

799.6 
191.7 
991.3 

546.2 

901.7 

1,447.9 
191.7 
1,639.6 

177.6 

182.8 

188.4 

194.4 

1,105.3 

1,848.5 

(100.2)   

(102.7) 

(105.4) 

(108.3) 

(485.1) 

(901.7) 

1.22% 
1.70% 
1.35% 

77.4 
32.5 
109.9 
265.5 

80.1 
34.0 
114.1 
274.2 

83.0 
35.6 
118.6 
282.4 

86.1 
37.2 
123.3 
292.1 

620.2 
230.5 
850.7 
1,842.0 

946.8 
369.8 
1,316.6 
2,956.2 

Fixed rate 
Secured long term-debt............... 
Debt swapped from floating to 

fixed......................................... 

Secured long-term debt after 

swaps........................................ 
Finance leases.............................. 
Total fixed rate debt.................... 

Floating rate 
Secured long-term debt............... 
Debt swapped from floating to 

fixed......................................... 

Secured long-term debt after 

swaps........................................ 
Finance leases.............................. 
Total floating rate debt................ 
Total financial liabilities............. 

161 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following provides an analysis of changes in borrowings during the year: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Balance at start of year ......................................................................................................  3,649.4 
Loans raised to finance aircraft acquisitions– denominated in euro ..................................  292.3 
Loans raised to finance aircraft acquisitions– denominated in USD .................................  
- 
Repayments of amounts borrowed ....................................................................................  (329.7) 
Foreign exchange loss/(gain) on conversion of US dollar loans .......................................  13.2 
Balance at end of year ....................................................................................................  3,625.2 

Less than one year ............................................................................................................  368.4 
More than one year ...........................................................................................................  3,256.8 
3,625.2 

2,956.2 
751.2 
240.2 
(280.7) 
(17.5) 
3,649.4 

336.7 
3,312.7 
3,649.4 

2,398.4 
788.1 
- 
(230.3) 
- 
2,956.2 

265.5 
2,690.7 
2,956.2 

The maturities of the contractual undiscounted cash flows (including estimated future interest payments 

on debt) of the Company‘s financial liabilities are as follows:  

At March 31, 2012 
Long term debt and finance 
leases 
-Fixed rate debt (excluding 
Swapped debt) ....................  
-Swapped to fixed rate debt  
- Fixed rate debt ..................   3.49% 
- Floating rate debt..............   1.85% 

Derivative financial 
instruments 
- Interest rate swaps  ...........  
-Carbon swaps ....................  
Trade payables ....................  
Accrued expenses ...............  

Total at March 31, 2012 .....  

Total 
Carrying 
Value 
€M 

Total 
Contractual 
Cash flows 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
€M 

2016 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

1,019.9 
1,290.6 
2,310.5 
1,314.7 
3,625.2 

80.3 
1.5 
181.2 
327.0 
4,215.2 

1,133.9 
1,329.4 
2,463.3 
1,436.9 
3,900.2 

70.5 
1.5 
181.2 
327.0 
4,480.4 

98.9 
170.2 
269.1 
158.3 
427.4 

22.7 
1.5 
181.2 
327.0 
959.8 

99.9 
170.6 
270.5 
161.3 
431.8 

23.7 
- 
- 
- 
455.5 

140.7 
168.7 
309.4 
164.4 
473.8 

14.4 
- 
- 
- 
488.2 

101.8 
143.7 
245.5 
173.3 
418.8 

7.4 
- 
- 
- 
426.2 

692.6 
676.2 
1,368.8 
779.6 
2,148.4 

2.3 
- 
- 
- 
2,150.7 

Total 
Carrying 
Value 
€M 

Total 
Contractual 
Cash flows 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

At March 31, 2011 
Long term debt and finance 
leases 
- Fixed rate debt ..................   3.67% 
- Floating rate debt..............   1.86% 

Derivative financial 
instruments 
-U.S dollar currency 
Forward contracts ...............  
- Interest rate swaps ............  
Trade payables ....................  
Accrued expenses ...............  

Total at March 31, 2011 .....  

2,043.6 
1,605.8 
3,649.4 

72.0 
37.8 
150.8 
273.2 
4,183.2 

2,237.8 
1,747.6 
3,985.4 

237.0 
170.0 
407.0 

235.8 
173.2 
409.0 

236.0 
176.3 
412.3 

273.0 
179.4 
452.4 

1,256.0 
1,048.7 
2,304.7 

63.7 
19.6 
150.8 
273.2 
914.3 

8.6 
9.5 
- 
- 
427.1 

0.1 
1.6 
- 
- 
414.0 

0.1 
(2.8) 
- 
- 
449.7 

0.2 
(9.2) 
- 
- 
2,295.7 

72.7 
18.7 
150.8 
273.2 
4,500.8 

162 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total 
Carrying 
Value 
€M 

Total 
Contractual 
Cash flows 
€M 

2011 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

1,639.6 
1,316.6 
2,956.2 

76.4 
154.0 
260.3 
3,446.9 

1,767.6 
1,422.2 
3,189.8 

149.2 
154.0 
260.3 
3,753.3 

183.9 
127.7 
311.6 

44.2 
154.0 
260.3 
770.1 

184.4 
130.4 
314.8 

184.1 
133.2 
317.3 

37.8 
- 
- 
352.6 

23.9 
- 
- 
341.2 

185.0 
136.3 
321.3 

17.8 
- 
- 
339.1 

1,030.2 
894.6 
1,924.8 

25.5 
- 
- 
1,950.3 

At March 31, 2010 
Long term debt and 
finance leases 
- Fixed rate debt ..................  3.89% 
- Floating rate debt..............  1.35% 

Derivative financial 
instruments 
- Interest rate swaps ............  
Trade payables ....................  
Accrued expenses ...............  

Total at March 31, 2010 .....  

Interest rate re-pricing 

Floating  interest  rates  on  financial  liabilities  are  generally  referenced  to  European  inter-bank  interest 
rates (EURIBOR).  Secured long-term debt and interest rate swaps  typically re-price  on a quarterly basis  with 
finance leases re-pricing on a semi-annual basis. We use current interest rate  settings on existing floating rate 
debt at each year-end to calculate contractual cash flows. 

Fixed  interest  rates  on  financial  liabilities  are  fixed  for  the  duration  of  the  underlying  structures 

(typically between 10 and 12 years). 

The  Company  holds  significant  cash  balances  that  are  invested  on  a  short-term  basis.  At  March  31, 
2012, all of the Company‘s cash and liquid resources had a maturity of one year or less and attracted a weighted 
average interest rate of 1.07% (2011: 0.97%; 2010: 0.93%). 

March 31, 2012 

March 31, 2011 

March 31, 2010 

Financial assets 

Within  
1 year 
€M 

Total 
€M 

Within  
1 year 
€M 

Total 
€M 

Cash and cash equivalents ................................................................................................  
Cash > 3 months ...............................................................................................................  
Restricted cash ..................................................................................................................  
Total financial assets .........................................................................................................  

2,028.3 
869.4 
42.9 
2,940.6 

2,708.3 
772.2 
35.1 
3,515.6 

2,708.3 
772.2 
35.1 
3,515.6 

2,028.3 
869.4 
42.9 
2,940.6 

Within  
1 year 
€M 

1,477.9 
1,267.7 
67.8 
2,813.4 

Total 
€M 

1,477.9 
1,267.7 
67.8 
2,813.4 

Interest rates on cash and liquid resources are generally based on the appropriate EURIBOR, LIBOR or 

bank rates dependant on the principal amounts on deposit. 

As described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company also held €149.7 million 
of an equity investment in Aer Lingus at March 31, 2012 (2011: €114.0 million; 2010: €116.2 million). This has 
no fixed maturity and is not interest bearing. 

(d) 

Foreign currency risk 

The  Company  has  exposure  to  various  foreign  currencies  (principally  U.K.  pounds  sterling  and  U.S. 
dollars)  due  to  the  international  nature  of  its  operations.  The  Company  manages  this  risk  by  matching  U.K. 
pound  sterling  revenues  against  U.K.  pound  sterling  costs.  Any  remaining  unmatched  U.K.  pound  sterling 
revenues  are  used  to  fund  U.S.  dollar  currency  exposures  that  arise  in  relation  to  fuel,  maintenance,  aviation 
insurance  and  capital  expenditure  costs  or  are  sold  for  euro.  The  Company  also  sells  euro  forward  to  cover 
certain  U.S.  dollar  costs.  Further  details  of  the  hedging  activity  carried  out  by  the  Company  are  disclosed  in 
Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.  

163 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table shows the net amount of monetary assets of the Company that are not denominated 
in  euro  at  March  31,  2012,  2011  and  2010.  Such  amounts  have  been  translated  using  the  following  year-end 
foreign currency rates in 2012: €/£: 0.8339 ; €/$: 1.3356 (2011: €/£: 0.8837; €/$: 1.4207, 2010: €/£: 0.8898; €/$: 
1.3479). 

March 31, 2012 

March 31, 2011 

March 31, 2010 

GBP 
£M 

U.S.$ 
£M 

euro  
equiv. 
$M 

GBP 
£M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

euro  
equiv. 
£M 

GBP 
$M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

euro  
equiv. 
€M 

Monetary assets 
U.K. pounds 
sterling cash and 
liquid resources ..................................................  
USD cash and 
liquid resources ..................................................  

38.9 

- 

- 
38.9 

- 
- 

46.7 

- 
46.7 

33.8 

- 
33.8 

- 

- 
- 

38.2 

35.6 

- 

- 
38.2 

- 
35.6 

12.4 
12.4 

40.0 

9.2 
49.2 

The  following  table  shows  the  net  amount  of  monetary  liabilities  of  the  Company  that  are  not 
denominated in euro at March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. Such amounts have been translated using the following 
year-end foreign currency rates in 2012: €/$: 1.3356.  

March 31, 2012 
euro  
equiv. 
€M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

March 31, 2011 
euro 
equiv. 
€M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

March 31, 2010 
euro  
equiv. 
€M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

Monetary liabilities 

USD long term debt ...........................................  

282.8 
282.8 

211.7 
211.7 

341.3 
341.3 

240.2 
240.2 

- 
- 

- 
- 

The Company has entered into cross currency interest rate swap arrangements to manage exposures to 
fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on these US dollar denominated floating rate borrowings, together with 
managing  the  exposures  to  fluctuations  in  interest  rates  on  these  US  dollar  denominated  floating  rate 
borrowings.  The fair value of these cross currency interest rate swap instruments at March 31, 2012 was €7.4 
million,  (2011:  €7.9  million,  2010:  nil)  which  has  been  classified  within  current  liabilities,  specifically 
derivative liabilities falling due within one year (see Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements).  

The following table gives details of the notional amounts of the Company‘s currency forward contracts 

as at March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010: 

Currency forward contracts 

March 31, 2012 

March 31, 2011 

March 31, 2010 

U.S.$ 
$M 

euro 
equiv. 
€M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

euro 
equiv. 
€M 

U.S.$ 
$M 

euro 
equiv. 
€M 

U.S. dollar currency forward 
contracts 
2,657.0 
- for fuel and other purchases ............................................................................................  
191.7 
- for aircraft purchases ......................................................................................................  
2,848.7 

2,552.6 
584.2 
3,136.8 

1,907.9 
136.9 
2,044.8 

1,887.2 
410.8 
2,298.0 

1,437.4 
1,123.8 
2,561.2 

770.4 
1,021.8 
1,792.2 

Currency forward contracts 

March 31, 2012 

March 31, 2011 

March 31, 2010 

Stg £ 
£M 

euro 
equiv. 
€M 

Stg £ 
£M 

euro 
equiv. 
€M 

Stg £ 
£M 

euro 
equiv. 
€M 

U.K pounds sterling currency 
10.0 
forward contracts ..............................................................................................................  
10.0 

12.0 
12.0 

- 
- 

- 
- 

122.3 
122.3 

140.3 
140.3 

164 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(e) 

Equity risk 

The  Company  has  exposure  to  equity  price  risk  primarily  in  relation  to  its  29.8%  investment  in  Aer 
Lingus. The Company does not have significant influence over Aer Lingus and accordingly, this investment is 
classified  as  an  available-for-sale  financial  asset  rather  than  an  investment  in  an  associate.  Additional 
information  in  relation  to  the  available-for-sale  financial  asset  can  be  found  in  Note  4  to  the  consolidated 
financial statements. 

(f) 

Credit risk 

The  Company  holds  significant  cash  balances,  which  are  invested  on  a  short-term  basis  and  are 
classified  as  either  cash  equivalents  or  liquid  investments.  These  deposits  and  other  financial  instruments 
(principally  certain  derivatives  and  loans  as  identified  above)  give  rise  to  credit  risk  on  amounts  due  from 
counterparties.  Credit  risk  is  managed  by  limiting  the  aggregate  amount  and  duration  of  exposure  to  any  one 
counterparty  through  regular  review  of  counterparties‘  market-based  ratings,  Tier  1  capital  level  and  credit 
default swap rates and by taking into account bank counterparties‘ systemic importance to the financial systems 
of their home  countries. The Company typically enters into deposits and derivative contracts  with parties that 
have a long term Standard and Poors ―A‖ category rating or equivalent credit rating. The maximum exposure 
arising  in  the  event  of  default  on  the  part  of  the  counterparty  is  the  carrying  value  of  the  relevant  financial 
instrument.  The  Company  is  authorised  to  place  funds  on  deposit  for  periods  up  to  18 months.  The  Board of 
Directors monitors the return on capital as well as the level of dividends to ordinary shareholders on an ongoing 
basis. 

The Company‘s revenues derive principally from airline travel on scheduled services, internet income 
and  in-flight  and  related  sales.  Revenue  is  wholly  derived  from  European  routes.  No  individual  customer 
accounts for a significant portion of total revenue. 

At  March  31,  2012  €1.0  million  (2011:  €0.7  million,  2010:  €0.6  million)  of  our  total  accounts 
receivable balance were past due, of which €0.1 million (2011: €0.1 million, 2010: €0.1 million) was impaired 
and provided for and €0.9 million (2011: €0.6 million, 2010: €0.5 million) was past due but not impaired. See 
Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. 

(g) 

Liquidity and capital management 

The Company‘s cash and liquid resources comprise cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments 
and  restricted  cash.  The  Company  defines  the  capital  that  it  manages  as  the  Company‘s  long-term  debt  and 
equity. The Company‘s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market 
confidence and to maintain sufficient financial resources to mitigate against risks and unforeseen events.  

The Company finances its working capital requirements through a combination of cash generated from 
operations and bank loans for the acquisition of aircraft. The Company had cash and liquid resources at March 
31, 2012 of €3,515.6 million (2011: €2,940.6 million; 2010: €2,813.4 million). During the year, the Company 
funded  €317.6  million  in  purchases  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  (2011:  €897.2  million,    2010:  €997.8 
million).  Cash  generated  from  operations  has  been  the  principal  source  for  these  cash  requirements, 
supplemented primarily by aircraft-related financing structures. 

The Board of Directors periodically reviews the capital structure of the Company, considering the cost 
of capital and the risks associated with each class of capital. The Board approves any material adjustments to the 
capital structure in terms of the relative proportions of debt and equity. 

Ryanair  has  generally  been  able  to  generate  sufficient  funds  from  operations  to  meet  its  non-aircraft 
acquisition-related working capital requirements. Management believes that the working capital available to the 
Company is sufficient for its present requirements and will be sufficient to meet its anticipated requirements for 
capital expenditures and other cash requirements for the 2013 fiscal year. 

(h) 

Guarantees 

Details of the Company‘s guarantees and the related accounting have been disclosed in Note 23 to the 

consolidated financial statements. 

165 

 
 
(i) 

Sensitivity analysis 

(i) 

Interest rate  risk: Based on the levels of and composition of  year-end interest bearing assets 
and  liabilities,  including  derivatives,  at  March  31,  2012,  a  plus  or  minus  one-percentage-point  movement  in 
interest rates would result in a respective increase or decrease of €18.3 million (net of tax) in net interest income 
and expense in the income statement (2011: €10.9 million; 2010: €12.4 million) and €36.9 million in equity. All 
of  the  Group‘s  interest  rate  swaps  are  used  to  swap  variable  rate  debt  to  fixed  rate  debt;  consequently  any 
changes  in  interest  rates  would  have  an  equal  and  opposite  income  statement  effect  for  both  the  interest  rate 
swaps and the debt.  

(ii) 

Foreign currency risk: A plus or minus change of 10% in relevant foreign currency exchange 
rates, based on outstanding foreign currency-denominated financial assets and financial liabilities at March 31, 
2012 would have a respective positive or negative impact on the income statement of  €1.8 million (net of tax) 
(2011:  €3.7  million;  2010:  €4.8  million)  and  on  equity  of  €176.3  million  (net  of  tax)  (2011:  €201.1  million; 
2010: €153.0 million). 

(iii) 

Equity  price  risk:  A  decrease  of  10%  in  the  Aer  Lingus  share  price  as  of  March  31,  2012 
would  result  in  a  decrease  of  €15.0  million  in  the  fair  value  of  the  available-for-sale  financial  assets  (2011: 
€11.4  million;  2010:  €11.6  million).  The  decrease  would  be  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income.  An 
increase of 10% in the Aer Lingus share price at March 31, 2012 would result in an increase of €15.0 million in 
the fair value of the available-for-sale financial assets reserve (2011: €11.4 million; 2010: €11.6 million). Such 
an increase would be recognised in other comprehensive income. 

12  

Deferred and current taxation 

The components of the deferred and current taxation in the balance sheet are as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Current tax (assets)/liabilities 
Corporation tax (prepayment)/provision ..........................................................................  (9.3) 
Total current tax (assets)/liabilities ..................................................................................  (9.3) 

Deferred tax liabilities  
Origination and reversal of temporary differences on property, plant and 
equipment,  derivatives, pensions and available-for- sale securities ...............................   324.4 
Total deferred tax liabilities ............................................................................................  324.4 

Deferred tax (assets) 
Net operating losses ........................................................................................................   (5.0) 
Total deferred tax assets .................................................................................................   (5.0) 

Total deferred tax liabilities (net) ................................................................................  319.4 

Total tax liabilities (net) ................................................................................................  310.1 

(0.5) 
(0.5) 

299.1 
299.1 

(31.4) 
(31.4) 

267.7 

267.2 

0.9 
0.9 

229.1 
229.1 

(29.5) 
(29.5) 

199.6 

200.5 

Reconciliation of current tax 

At beginning of year .....................................................................................................  (0.5) 
Corporation tax charge in year .....................................................................................   4.9 
Adjustment in respect of  prior-year over-provision .....................................................  (0.1) 
Tax paid ........................................................................................................................  (13.6) 
At end of year ...............................................................................................................  (9.3) 

0.9 
4.4 
- 
(5.8) 
(0.5) 

0.4 
0.8 
(0.3) 
- 
0.9 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

166 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Reconciliation of deferred tax 

At beginning of year ....................................................................................................  267.7 
Adjustment in respect of  prior year provisions ...........................................................  
- 
Release of deferred tax asset for prior-year net operating losses .................................  26.4 
New temporary differences on property, plant and equipment,  

derivatives, pensions and other items ....................................................................  25.3 
At end of year ..............................................................................................................  319.4 

199.6 
- 
(1.9) 

70.0 
267.7 

155.5 
(1.7) 
6.6 

39.2 
199.6 

As  at  March  31,  2012,  a  deferred  tax  asset  of  €5  million  was  recognised  in  respect  of  net  operating 
losses incurred and available to carry forward to future periods (2011: €31.4 million, 2010: €29.5 million). The 
recoverability  of  the  deferred  tax  asset  is  based  on  future  income  forecasts  which  demonstrate  that  it  is  more 
likely  than  not  that  future  profits  will  be  available  in  order  to  utilise  the  deferred  tax  asset.  The  deferred  tax 
asset‘s  recoverability  is  not  dependent  on  material  improvements  over  historical  levels  of  pre-tax  income, 
material changes in the present relationship between income reported for financial and tax purposes, or material 
asset sales or other non-routine transactions. 

New temporary differences arising in the year to March 31, 2012 consisted of temporary differences of 
a  charge  of  €41.4  million  for  property,  plant  and  equipment  recognised  in  the  income  statement,  a  credit  of 
€15.2  million  for  derivatives  and  a  credit of  €0.9  million  for  pensions,  all  recognised  in  other  comprehensive 
income.  The  charge  in  the  year  to  March  31,  2011  consisted  of  temporary  differences  of  a  charge  of  €43.7 
million  for  property,  plant  and  equipment  recognised  in  the  income  statement,  a  charge  of  €25.6  million  for 
derivatives and a charge of €0.7 million for pensions, all recognised in other comprehensive income. The charge 
in the year to March 31, 2010 consisted of temporary differences of a charge of €30.2 million for property, plant 
and equipment recognised in the income statement and a charge of €9.0 million for derivatives, all recognised in 
other comprehensive income. 

The components of the tax expense/(credit) in the income statement were as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Corporation tax charge in year .......................................................................................  4.9 
- 
Adjustment in respect of prior-year provisions ..............................................................  
Deferred tax charge relating to origination and reversal of  

temporary differences ............................................................................................  67.7 
72.6 

4.4 
0.1 

41.8 
46.3 

0.8 
(2.0) 

36.9 
35.7 

The  following  table  reconciles  the  statutory  rate  of  Irish  corporation  tax  to  the  Company‘s  effective 

corporation tax rate: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
% 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
% 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
% 

Statutory rate of Irish corporation tax ............................................................................  12.5 
Adjustments for earnings taxed at higher rates ..............................................................   0.2 
Adjustments for earnings taxed at lower rates ...............................................................  (1.1) 
- 
Loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial asset ...............................................  
- 
Adjustments for prior year over-provisions ...................................................................  
Other differences ...........................................................................................................  (0.1) 
Total effective rate of taxation .......................................................................................  11.5 

12.5 
0.2 
(0.9) 
- 
- 
(0.8) 
11.0 

12.5 
0.1 
(1.1) 
0.5 
(0.6) 
(0.9) 
10.5 

167 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax applicable to items charged or credited to other comprehensive income were as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Defined benefit pension obligations ..............................................................................  (0.9) 
Derivative financial instruments ....................................................................................  (15.2) 
Total tax charge in other comprehensive income ...........................................................  (16.1) 

0.7 
25.6 
26.3 

- 
9.0 
9.0 

The  majority  of  current  and  deferred  tax  recorded  in  each  of  fiscal  2012,  2011  and  2010  relates  to 
domestic tax charges and there is no expiry date associated with these temporary differences. In fiscal 2012, the 
Irish corporation tax rate remained at 12.5%. 

The principal components of deferred tax at each year-end were: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31,  
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Arising on capital allowances and other temporary differences...............................  306.9 
Arising on net operating losses carried forward.......................................................  (5.0) 
Arising on derivatives ..............................................................................................   19.0 
Arising on pensions .................................................................................................  (1.5) 
Total.........................................................................................................................  319.4 

265.5 
(31.4) 
34.2 
(0.6) 
267.7 

221.8 
(29.5) 
8.6 
(1.3) 
199.6 

At March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company had fully provided for all required deferred tax assets 
and  liabilities.  There  are  no  taxable  temporary  differences  on  overseas  subsidiaries  and,  on  that  basis,  no 
deferred  tax  has  been  provided  for  on  the  un-remitted  earnings  of  overseas  subsidiaries  because  there  is  no 
intention to remit these to Ireland. 

13 

Provisions  

 Provision for aircraft maintenance on operating leased aircraft (a) ..............................  91.3 
 Provision for pension obligation (b) .............................................................................  11.9 
103.2 

84.7 
4.9 
89.6 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

92.6 
10.3 
102.9 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

(a) Provision for aircraft maintenance on operating leased aircraft 

 At beginning of year .....................................................................................................  84.7 
 Increase in provision during the year ............................................................................  33.1 
(26.5) 
 Utilisation of provision upon the hand-back of  aircraft ...............................................  
 At end of year ...............................................................................................................  91.3 

92.6 
31.3 
(39.2) 
84.7 

61.9 
30.7 
- 
92.6 

During the 2012 fiscal year, the Company returned 3 aircraft held under operating lease to the lessors. 
The Company incurred €26.5 million satisfying the requirement to return the aircraft to the lessor in accordance 
with operating conditions specified in the lease agreements. 

168 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The expected timing of the outflows of economic benefits associated with the provision at March 31, 

2012, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:  

At March 31, 2012 
Provision for leased aircraft 
maintenance  

At March 31, 2011 
Provision for leased aircraft 
maintenance  

At March 31, 2010 
Provision for leased aircraft 
maintenance 

Carrying  
Value 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
€M 

2016 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

91.3 

4.3 

44.3 

8.0 

14.9 

19.8 

Carrying  
Value 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

2015 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

84.7 

10.8 

13.4 

30.5 

10.4 

19.6 

Carrying  
Value 
€M 

2011 
€M 

2012 
€M 

2013 
€M 

2014 
€M 

Thereafter 
€M 

92.6 

36.2 

7.6 

9.5 

22.4 

16.9 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

b) Provision for pension obligation 

At beginning of year ......................................................................................................  4.9 
Movement during the year .............................................................................................  7.0 
At end of year ................................................................................................................  11.9 

10.3 
(5.4) 
4.9 

10.1 
0.2 
10.3 

The  present  value  of  the  net  pension  obligation  before  tax  is  €11.9  million  (2011:  €4.9  million;  2010:  €10.3 
million) in Ryanair Limited. See Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.  

14 

Other creditors 

This consists of deferred gains arising from the sale and leaseback of aircraft. During fiscal year 2012, 
Ryanair returned 3 sale-and-leaseback aircraft and entered into sale-and-leaseback arrangements for 11 (2011: 6; 
2010: 12) new Boeing 737-800 ―next generation‖ aircraft, bringing total sale-and-leaseback aircraft to 59 as at 
March 31, 2012. 

15 

(a) 

Issued share capital, share premium account and share options 

Share capital 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Authorised: 

1,680,000,000 ordinary equity shares of 0.635 euro cent each ......................................  10.7 

10.7 

10.7 

Allotted, called-up and fully paid: 

1,455,593,261 ordinary equity shares of 0.635 euro cent each ...........................................  9.3 
1,489,574,915 ordinary equity shares of 0.635 euro cent each ...........................................  - 
1,478,935,935 ordinary equity shares of 0.635 euro cent each ...........................................  - 

- 
9.5 
- 

- 
- 
9.4 

169 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The movement in the share capital balance year on year principally relates to  2.5 million (2011: 10.6 
million; 2010: 5.6 million) new shares issued due to the exercise of share options, less the cancellation of 36.5 
million shares relating to share buy-backs (2011: nil; 2010: nil).  

The  share  capital  of  Ryanair  consists  of  one  class  of  stock,  the  ordinary  equity  shares.  The  ordinary 

equity shares do not confer on the holders thereof the specific right to be paid a dividend out of profits. 

(b) 

Share premium account 

2012 
€M 

At March 31,  
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Balance at beginning of year .........................................................................................  
659.3 
Share premium arising from the exercise of 2.5 million options in 

fiscal 2012, 10.6 million options in fiscal 2011 and 5.6 million 
options in fiscal 2010 .............................................................................................  7.1 
666.4 
Balance at end of year....................................................................................................  

631.9 

617.4 

27.4 
659.3 

14.5 
631.9 

(c) 

Share options and share purchase arrangements 

The Company has adopted a number of share option plans, which allow current or future employees or 
executive  directors  to  purchase  shares  in  the  Company  up  to  an  aggregate  of  approximately  5%  (when 
aggregated with other ordinary shares over which options are granted and which have not yet been exercised) of 
the outstanding ordinary shares of Ryanair Holdings plc, subject to certain conditions. All grants are subject to 
approval  by  the  Remuneration  Committee.  These  are  exercisable  at  a  price  equal  to  the  market  price  of  the 
ordinary shares at the time options are granted. The key terms of these option plans include the requirement that 
certain employees remain in employment with the Company for a specified period of time.  See note 25 to the 
consolidated financial statements for more details. 

Details of the share options outstanding are set out below: 

Share Options 

M 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price 

Outstanding at March 31, 2009 ......................................................................................  
Exercised .......................................................................................................................  
Expired ..........................................................................................................................  
Forfeited ........................................................................................................................  
Outstanding at March 31, 2010 ......................................................................................  
Exercised .......................................................................................................................  
Expired ..........................................................................................................................  
Forfeited ........................................................................................................................  
Outstanding at March 31, 2011 ......................................................................................  
Exercised .......................................................................................................................  
Expired ..........................................................................................................................  
Forfeited ........................................................................................................................  
Outstanding at March 31, 2012 ......................................................................................  

41.7 
(5.6) 
(0.2) 
(0.1) 
35.8 
(10.6) 
(1.8) 
(0.0) 
23.4 
(2.5) 
(0.8) 
(2.1) 
18.0 

€2.94 
€2.60 
€2.83 
€2.49 
€3.00 
€2.58 
€4.13 
€3.77 
€3.07 
€2.81 
€3.40 
€3.08 
€3.11 

The mid-market price of Ryanair Holdings plc‘s ordinary shares on the Irish Stock Exchange at March 
31, 2012 was €4.48 (2011: €3.36, 2010: €3.68). The highest and lowest prices at which the Company‘s shares 
traded on the Irish Stock Exchange in the 2012 fiscal year were €4.48 and €2.82, respectively (2011: €4.20 and 
€2.78, respectively; 2010: €3.77 and €2.74, respectively). There were 6.2 million options exercisable at March 
31, 2012 (2011: 12.9 million; 2010: 14.1 million). The average share price for the year was €3.58 (2011: €3.60, 
2010: €3.29). 

The weighted average share price (as of the dates of exercises) for all options exercised during the 2012 

fiscal year was €3.69 (2011: €3.72; 2010: €3.50). 

170 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At  March  31,  2012  the  range  of  exercise  prices  and  weighted  average  remaining  contractual  life  of 

outstanding and exercisable options was as follows: 

Options outstanding 

Options exercisable 

Number 
outstanding 

M 

18.0 

Weighted-
average 
remaining 
contractual life 
(years) 

Weighted-
average 
exercise  
price (€) 

3.1 

3.11 

Number 
exercisable  

M 

6.2 

Weighted-
average 
remaining 
contractual life 
(years) 

Weighted-
average 
exercise 
price (€) 

0.4 

3.24 

Range of 
exercise 
 price (€) 

2.56-4.96 

The Company has accounted for its share option grants to employees at  fair value, in accordance with 
IFRS 2, using a binomial lattice model to value the option grants. The net credit to the income statement of €0.7 
million (2011: €3.3 million charge; 2010: €4.9 million charge) comprises a €2.5 million reversal of previously 
recognised share-based compensation expense for awards that did not vest, offset by a charge of €1.8 million for 
the  fair  value  of  various  share  options  granted  in  prior  periods,  which  are  recognised  within  the  income 
statement in accordance with employee services rendered.  This was based on 8.4 million share options within 
the scope of IFRS 2 (2011: 22.6 million; 2010: 23.2 million) as compared to the total share options disclosed 
above (as permitted by the transitional rules in IFRS 1). 

There were no share options granted during the years ended March 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. 

16  Other equity reserve  

The  total  share  based  payments  reserve  at  March  31,  2012  was  €21.6  million  (2011:  €25.3  million; 
2010: €26.5 million). The available-for-sale financial asset reserve at March 31, 2012 was €70.0 million (2011: 
€34.3 million; 2010: €36.5 million). The total cash-flow hedge reserve amounted to €138.6 million at March 31, 
2012 (2011: €257.4 million; 2010: €60.3 million). Further details of the group‘s derivatives are set out in Notes 
5 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements.  

17  Analysis of operating revenues and segmental analysis 

The  Company  is  managed  as  a  single  business  unit  that  provides  low  fares  airline-related  services, 
including  scheduled  services,  internet  and  other  related  services  to  third  parties  across  a  European  route 
network.  The  Company  operates  a  single  fleet  of  aircraft  that  is  deployed  through  a  single  route  scheduling 
system.   

The Company determines and presents operating segments based on the information that internally is 
provided to Michael O‘Leary, CEO, who is the  Company‘s Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). When 
making  resource  allocation  decisions  the  CODM  evaluates  route  revenue  and  yield  data,  however  resource 
allocation decisions are made based on the entire route network and the deployment of the entire aircraft fleet, 
which are uniform in type.  The objective in making resource allocation decisions is to maximise consolidated 
financial results, rather than results on individual routes within the network. 

The CODM assesses the performance of the business based on the consolidated adjusted profit/(loss) 
after tax of the Company for the year. This measure excludes the effects of certain income and expense items, 
which  are  unusual,  by  virtue  of  their  size  and  incidence,  in  the  context  of  the  Company‘s  ongoing  core 
operations,  such  as  the  impairment  of  a  financial  asset  investment,  accelerated  depreciation  related  to  aircraft 
disposals and Icelandic volcanic ash related costs. 

All  segment  revenue  is  derived  wholly  from  external  customers  and,  as  the  Company  has  a  single 

reportable segment, inter-segment revenue is zero.   

The  Company‘s  major  revenue-generating  asset  class  comprises  its  aircraft  fleet,  which  is  flexibly 
employed across the Company‘s integrated route network and is directly attributable to its reportable segment 
operations.  In addition, as the Company is managed as a single business unit, all other assets and liabilities have 
been allocated to the Company‘s single reportable segment. 

171 

 
 
 
There  have  been  no  changes  to  the  basis  of  segmentation  or  the  measurement  basis  for  the  segment 

profit or loss since the prior year. 

Reportable segment information is presented as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

External revenues ................................................................................................  4,390.2 

3,629.5 

Reportable segment adjusted profit after income tax .......................................  502.6 

400.7 

Other segment information: 
(309.2) 
Depreciation  ..........................................................................................................  
Finance income ......................................................................................................  44.3 
(109.2) 
Finance expense .....................................................................................................  
(317.6) 
Capital expenditure ................................................................................................  

(277.7) 
27.2 
(93.9) 
(897.2) 

2,988.1 

318.8 

(235.4) 
23.5 
(72.1) 
(997.8) 

At March 31, 
2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

At March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Reportable segment assets (i).................................................................................  8,851.3 
(i) Excludes the available-for-sale financial asset. 

8,482.0 

7,447.2 

Reconciliation of reportable segment profit or loss to consolidated profit after income tax is as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Total adjusted profit or loss for reportable segment ...............................................  502.6 
Other items of profit or loss; 
One-off revenue adjustment (a) .............................................................................  57.8 
- 
Icelandic volcanic ash related cost (b) ...................................................................  
- 
Loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial asset (c) ..................................  
560.4 
Consolidated profit/(loss) after income tax .......................................  

400.7 

- 
(26.1) 
- 
374.6 

318.8 

- 
- 
(13.5) 
305.3 

(a)    

(b) 

The exceptional item in the year relates to a one-off release of ticket sales revenue in the year ended March 31, 
2012  of  €57.8  million,  net  of  tax,  due  to  a  change  in  accounting  estimates  relating  to  the  timing  of  revenue 
recognition  for  unused  passenger  tickets  which  was  made  as  a  result  of  the  availability  of  more  accurate  and 
timely data obtained through system enhancements. 

Icelandic volcanic ash related costs of €26.1 million reflect the estimated costs relating to the closure of airspace 
in April and May 2010 due to the Icelandic volcanic ash disruptions. The closure of European airspace in April 
and May 2010, due to the Icelandic volcanic ash disruption, resulted in the cancellation of 9,400 Ryanair flights. 
The impact on the Group‘s operating results totaled €29.7 million, (before associated tax of €3.6 million) for the 
year  ended  March  31,  2011,  comprising  €15.6  million  of  operating  expenses  and  €1.7  million  of  finance 
expenses attributable to the period of flight disruption, together with estimated passenger compensation costs of 
€12.4 million pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 (‗EU261‘). The Company‘s estimate of total passenger 
compensation  costs  has  been  determined  based  on  actual  claims  received  and  processed  to  date  together  with 
probable future compensation payments and other related costs. 

(c) 

This reflects the impairment change taken on the Company‘s investment in Aer Lingus in 2010. 

172 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Entity-wide disclosures: 

Revenue is analysed by geographical area (by country of origin) as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Ireland ....................................................................................................................  387.2 
United Kingdom ....................................................................................................  1,054.6 
Other European countries ......................................................................................  2,948.4 
4,390.2 

375.1 
965.0 
2,289.4 
3,629.5 

357.2 
838.7 
1,792.2 
2,988.1 

Ancillary revenues included in total revenue above comprise: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Non-flight scheduled..............................................................................................  677.4 
In-flight ..................................................................................................................  106.7 
Internet income ......................................................................................................  102.1 
886.2 

603.4 
102.1 
96.1 
801.6 

493.5 
86.5 
83.6 
663.6 

Non-flight  scheduled  revenue  arises  from  the  sale  of  rail  and  bus  tickets,  hotel  reservations,  car  hire 
and other sources, including excess baggage charges and administration fees, all directly attributable to the low-
fares business. 

All of the Company‘s operating profit arises from low-fares airline-related activities, its only business 
segment. The major revenue earning assets of the Company are its aircraft, which are registered in Ireland and 
therefore all profits accrue principally in Ireland. Since the Company‘s aircraft fleet is flexibly employed across 
its  route  network  in  Europe,  there  is  no  suitable  basis  of  allocating  such  assets  and  related  liabilities  to 
geographical segments.  

18  Staff numbers and costs  

The  average  weekly  number  of  staff,  including  the  executive  director,  during  the  year,  analysed  by 

category, was as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 

Flight and cabin crew (full time employees) ....................................................  2,888 
Flight and cabin crew (contract staff) ..............................................................  4,768 
Sales, operations and administration ................................................................   782 

8,438 

2,883 
4,356 
824 

8,063 

2,859 
3,304 
869 

7,032 

At March 31, 2012 the company had a team of 8,388 people (2011: 8,560; 2010: 7,168). 

173 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€M 

Staff and related costs .................................................................................................................  
Social welfare costs ....................................................................................................................  
Other pension costs (a) ...............................................................................................................  
Share based payments (b) ...........................................................................................................  

395.0 
18.1 
2.6 
(0.7) 
415.0 

352.0 
18.1 
2.7 
3.3 
376.1 

310.6 
17.5 
2.0 
4.9 
335.0 

____________________________ 
(a)  Costs in respect of defined-contribution benefit plans and other pension arrangements were €1.9 million in 
2012  (2011:  €1.7  million;  2010:  €1.4  million)  while  costs  associated  with  defined-benefit  plans  included 
here were €0.7 million in 2012 (2011: €1.0 million; 2010: €0.6 million). (See Note 21 to the consolidated 
financial statements). 

(b)  The net credit to the income statement in the year of approximately €0.7 million comprises a €2.5 million 
reversal of previously recognised share-based compensation expense for awards that did not vest, offset by 
a charge of €1.8million for the fair value of various share options granted in prior periods, which are being 
recognised on the income statement in accordance with employee services rendered. 

19  Statutory and other information  

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€M 

Directors‟ emoluments: 
-Fees ..............................................................................................................................   0.3 
-Other emoluments, including bonus and pension contributions ...................................   1.3 
Total directors‘ emoluments ..........................................................................................   1.6 

Auditor‟s remuneration:  
- Audit services (i) .........................................................................................................   0.4 
- 
- Audit-related services (ii) ............................................................................................  
- Tax advisory services (iii) ...........................................................................................   0.4 
Total fees .......................................................................................................................   0.8 

Included within the above total fees, the following fees were payable 

to other KPMG firms outside of Ireland: 

Audit services ................................................................................................................  
- 
Tax services ...................................................................................................................   0.3 
Total fees .......................................................................................................................   0.3 

0.3 
1.1 
1.4 

0.4 
- 
0.4 
0.8 

- 
0.3 
0.3 

0.2 
0.9 
1.1 

0.5 
- 
0.3 
0.8 

- 
0.1 
0.1 

Depreciation of owned property, plant and equipment ..................................................  294.3 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment held under finance 

leases ..........................................................................................................................  14.9 
Operating lease charges, principally for aircraft ............................................................  90.7 

260.5 

17.2 
97.2 

219.3 

16.1 
95.5 

______________ 

(i)  Audit services comprise audit work performed on the consolidated financial statements. In 2012, €1,000, (2011: €1,000; 

2010: €1,000) of audit fees relate to the audit of the parent company.  

(ii)  Audit-related services are for assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor, 
including  statutory  audits,  interim  reviews,  employee  benefit  plan  audits,  and  special  procedures  required  to  meet 
certain regulatory requirements. 

(iii)  Tax  services  include  all  services,  except  those  services  specifically  related  to  the  audit  of  financial  statements, 
performed  by  the  independent  auditor‘s  tax  personnel,  supporting  tax-related  regulatory  requirements,  and  tax 
compliance and reporting. 

174 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) Fees and emoluments - executive director 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€M 

Basic salary ....................................................................................................................   0.8 
Bonus (performance and target-related) .........................................................................   0.5 
- 
Pension contributions .....................................................................................................  
1.3 

0.6 
0.4 
0.1 
1.1 

0.6 
0.2 
0.1 
0.9 

During  the  years  ended  March  31,  2012,  2011,  and  2010  Michael  O‘Leary  was  the  only  executive 

director. 

(b) Fees and emoluments – non-executive directors 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€M 

Fees 
Emmanuel Faber (i) .......................................................................................................  
- 
Michael Horgan .............................................................................................................   0.03 
Klaus Kirchberger ..........................................................................................................   0.03 
Charles McCreevy .........................................................................................................   0.05 
Declan McKeon .............................................................................................................   0.05 
Kyran McLaughlin .........................................................................................................   0.05 
James Osborne ...............................................................................................................   0.05 
Paolo Pietrogrande .........................................................................................................   0.03 
0.29 

Emoluments 
Michael Horgan .............................................................................................................   0.04 
0.33 

(i) 

Emmanuel Faber resigned on September 22, 2010. 

0.01 
0.03 
0.03 
0.04 
0.04 
0.05 
0.05 
0.03 
0.28 

0.04 
0.32 

0.05 
0.03 
0.03 
- 
- 
0.05 
0.05 
0.03 
0.24 

0.04 
0.28 

(c) Pension benefits 

Director 

Increase in 
Accrued Benefit 
Fiscal 
2011 
€ 

Fiscal 
2010 
€ 

Fiscal 
2012 
€ 

Transfer Value 
Equivalent of Increase in 
Accrued Benefit 
Fiscal 
2011 
€ 

Fiscal 
2010 
€ 

Fiscal 
2012 
€ 

Total Accumulated 
Accrued Benefit 
Fiscal 
2011 
€ 

Fiscal 
2010 
€ 

Fiscal 
2012 
€ 

Michael O‘Leary ...............  3,623 

- 

- 

31,053 

- 

- 

142,949 

139,326 

139,326 

Increase in fiscal 2012 benefits relate solely to a revaluation at January 1, 2012 as compared to the previous revaluation at 
October 1, 2008 

Defined Contribution Plan: Company Contributions Paid 

Director 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€ 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€ 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€ 

Michael O‘Leary ............................................................................................................  

- 

68,425 

68,425 

As of October 1, 2008, Michael O‘Leary is no longer an active member of a Company defined-benefit 
plan. Michael  O‘Leary  is  now  a  member  of  a  defined-contribution  plan.  The  cost  of  the  death-in-service  and 
disability benefits provided during the accounting year is not included in the above figures. No pension benefits 
are provided for non-executive directors. The pension benefits set out above have been computed in accordance 

175 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
with Section 6.8 of the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange. The increases in transfer values of the accrued 
benefits have been calculated as at the year-end in accordance with version 1.1 of Actuarial Standard of Practice 
PEN-11. 

(d) Shares and share options 

(i) Shares 

Ryanair Holdings plc is listed on the Irish, London and NASDAQ stock exchanges.  

The beneficial interests as at March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 of the directors and of their spouses and 

minor children in the share capital of the Company are as follows: 

No. of Shares at March 31, 
2011 

2012 

2010 

David Bonderman ......................................................................................................  
Michael O‘Leary ........................................................................................................  
James Osborne ...........................................................................................................  
Kyran McLaughlin .....................................................................................................  
Michael Horgan .........................................................................................................  
Paolo Pietrogrande .....................................................................................................  

9,230,671 
51,081,256 
510,256 
200,000 
50,000 
20,000 

13,230,671 
55,081,256 
1,010,256 
200,000 
50,000 
20,000 

13,230,671 
60,000,016 
1,410,256 
200,000 
50,000 
- 

(ii) Share options 

The share options held by each director in office at the end of fiscal 2012 were as follows: 

No. of Options at March 31, 
2011 

2010 

2012 

David Bonderman (b) ..............................................................................................................  
Michael Horgan (b)..................................................................................................................  
Klaus Kirchberger (b) ..............................................................................................................  
Kyran McLaughlin (b) .............................................................................................................  
Michael O‘Leary (a) ................................................................................................................  
James Osborne (b) ...................................................................................................................  
Paolo Pietrogrande (b) .............................................................................................................  
______________ 

25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
- 
25,000 
25,000 

25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
- 
25,000 
25,000 

25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
102,037 
25,000 
25,000 

(a)  These  options  were  granted  to  Michael  O‘Leary  as  follows:  35,402  in  fiscal  2003  at  €2.86  and 45,838  in  fiscal 
2004 at €2.21 and 20,797 in fiscal 2008 at €4.86 (the market values at the dates of grant), in all cases under the 
2003  share  option  plan;  these  were  exercisable  between  2008  and  2010.  On  June  18,  2010,  Michael  O‘Leary 
exercised  35,402 options  at  €2.86  and  on  July  27,  2010,  exercised  45,838  options  at  €2.21.  The  20,797 options 
granted in fiscal 2008 at €4.86 lapsed on July 31, 2010. 

(b)  These options were granted to these directors at an exercise price of €4.96 (the market value at the date of grant) 

during the 2008 fiscal year and are exercisable between June 2013 and June 2015. 

Directors not referred to above held no shares or share options. 

In  the  2012  fiscal  year  the  Company  incurred  total  share-based  compensation  expense  of  €0.1  million 

(2011: €0.05 million; 2010: €0.05 million) in relation to directors.  

20  Finance expense  

Interest payable on bank loans wholly repayable after five years ............................  109.3 
Interest arising on pension liabilities, net (see Note 21) ..........................................   (0.1) 
109.2 

93.8 
0.1 
93.9 

71.6 
0.5 
72.1 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€M 

176 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21  Pensions 

The Company accounts for pensions in accordance with IAS 19, ―Employee Benefits.‖  

The Company operates defined-benefit and defined-contribution schemes. 

Defined-benefit schemes 

The Company funds the pension entitlements of certain employees through defined-benefit plans. Two 
plans  are  operated  for  eligible  Irish  and  UK  employees.  In  general,  on  retirement,  a  member  is  entitled  to  a 
pension  calculated  at  1/60th  of  the  final  pensionable  salary  for  each  year  of  pensionable  service,  subject  to  a 
maximum of 40 years. These plans are fully funded on a discontinuance basis and the related pension costs and 
liabilities are assessed in accordance with the advice of a professionally qualified actuary. The investments of 
the plans at March 31, 2012 consisted of units held in independently administered funds. The most recent full 
actuarial valuations of the plans were carried out at January 1, 2011 in respect of the UK plan and December 31, 
2009 in respect of the Irish plan, in accordance with local regulatory requirements using the projected unit credit 
method, and the valuation reports are not available for public inspection. 

A separate annual actuarial valuation has been performed for the purposes of preparing these financial 
statements. The principal actuarial assumptions used for the purpose of this actuarial valuation were as follows: 

2012 

At March 31, 
2011 

2010 

Discount rate used for Irish plan ..........................................................................................  
Discount rate used for UK plan............................................................................................  
Return on plan assets for Irish plan ......................................................................................  
Return on plan assets for UK plan .......................................................................................  
Rate of euro inflation ...........................................................................................................  
Rate of UK inflation ............................................................................................................  
Future pension increases in Irish plan ..................................................................................  
Future pension increases in UK plan ...................................................................................  
Future salary increases for Irish plan ...................................................................................  
Future salary increases for UK plan  ....................................................................................  

% 
5.00 
5.00 
6.15 
6.55 
2.00 
3.25 
0.00 
3.15 
2.00 
2.25 

% 
5.75 
5.60 
6.75 
7.55 
2.25 
3.40 
0.00 
3.30 
2.00 
2.00 

% 
5.25 
5.60 
6.67 
7.45 
2.25 
3.50 
0.00 
3.40 
2.25 
3.50 

The  Company  uses  certain  mortality  rate  assumptions  when  calculating  scheme  liabilities.  The 
mortality assumptions of the Irish scheme have been based on the mortality table 62%/70% PNM/FL00 while 
the  mortality  assumptions  of  the  UK  scheme  have  been  based  on  the  ―SAPS‖  mortality  table.  Both  mortality 
assumptions make allowance for future improvements in mortality rates. Retirement ages for scheme members 
are 60 for pilots and 65 for other staff.  

177 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The current life expectancies underlying the value of the scheme liabilities for the Irish scheme are as 

follows: 

2012 

At March 31, 
2011 

2010 

Retiring at age 60: 
Male ...............................................................................................................................  26.6 
Female ...........................................................................................................................  28.2 
Retiring at age 65: 
Male ...............................................................................................................................  22.3 
Female ...........................................................................................................................  23.7 

26.5 
28.1 

22.2 
23.6 

26.3 
28.0 

22.0 
23.5 

The current life expectancies underlying the value of the scheme liabilities for the UK scheme are as 

follows: 

2012 

At March 31, 
2011 

2010 

Retiring at age 60: 
Male ...............................................................................................................................  26.4 
Female ...........................................................................................................................  28.7 
Retiring at age 65: 
Male ...............................................................................................................................  21.9 
Female ...........................................................................................................................  23.9 

26.7 
29.6 

21.7 
24.5 

26.5 
29.4 

21.6 
24.4 

The amounts recognised in the consolidated balance sheets in respect of our defined benefit plans are 

as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Present value of benefit obligations ...............................................................................  (42.2) 
Fair value of plan assets .................................................................................................  30.3 
Present value of net obligations .....................................................................................  (11.9) 
Related deferred tax asset ..............................................................................................  1.5 
Net pension (liability) ....................................................................................................  (10.4) 

(32.8) 
27.9 
(4.9) 
0.6 
(4.3) 

(35.9) 
25.6 
(10.3) 
1.3 
(9.0) 

The amounts recognised in the consolidated income statements in respect of our defined-benefit plans 

are as follows: 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Included in payroll costs 
Service cost .................................................................................................................   0.7 

0.8 

0.6 

Included in finance expense 
Interest on pension scheme liabilities .........................................................................   1.9 
Expected return on plan assets ....................................................................................   (2.0) 
Net finance (income)/expense .....................................................................................   (0.1) 

Net periodic pension cost ..........................................................................................   0.6 

1.9 
(1.8) 
0.1 

0.9 

1.7 
(1.2) 
0.5 

1.1 

178 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Analysis of amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (―CSOCI‖); 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Actual return less expected return on pension scheme assets ......................................  (0.8) 
Experience (losses)/gains on scheme liabilities ...........................................................  (0.8) 
Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of scheme  

liabilities ..................................................................................................................  (5.5) 
Actuarial (losses)/gains recognised in the CSOCI .......................................................  (7.1) 
Related deferred tax (liability) .....................................................................................   0.8 
Net actuarial (losses)/gains recognised in the CSOCI ..................................................  (6.3) 

(0.3) 
1.0 

5.0 
5.7 
(0.7) 
5.0 

5.6 
0.5 

(6.1) 
- 
- 
- 

Changes in the present value of the defined-benefit obligation of the plans are as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year ........................................................   32.9 
Service cost ..................................................................................................................   0.6 
Interest cost ..................................................................................................................   1.9 
Plan participants‘ contributions ...................................................................................   0.3 
Actuarial loss/(gain) .....................................................................................................   6.2 
Benefits paid ................................................................................................................   (0.2) 
Foreign exchange rate changes ....................................................................................   0.5 
Projected benefit obligation at end of year funded.......................................................   42.2 

35.9 
0.8 
1.9 
0.3 
(6.0) 
(0.2) 
0.1 
32.8 

28.1 
0.6 
1.7 
0.3 
5.3 
(0.4) 
0.3 
35.9 

Changes in fair values of the plans‘ assets are as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year .............................................................   27.9 
Expected return on plan assets ....................................................................................   2.0 
Actual (losses)/gains on plan assets ............................................................................   (0.8) 
Employer contribution ................................................................................................   0.7 
Plan participants‘ contributions ..................................................................................   0.3 
Benefits paid ...............................................................................................................   (0.2) 
Foreign exchange rate changes ...................................................................................   0.4 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year .......................................................................   30.3 

25.6 
1.8 
(0.3) 
0.8 
0.3 
(0.2) 
(0.1) 
27.9 

17.9 
1.2 
5.4 
0.9 
0.3 
(0.4) 
0.3 
25.6 

The fair value of the plans‘ assets at March 31 of each year is analysed as follows: 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Equities ........................................................................................................................   22.5 
Bonds ...........................................................................................................................   5.4 
Property .......................................................................................................................   0.7 
Other assets ..................................................................................................................   1.7 
Total fair value of plan assets ......................................................................................   30.3 

21.5 
4.4 
0.6 
1.4 
27.9 

19.2 
4.3 
0.6 
1.5 
25.6 

The plans‘ assets do not include any of our own financial instruments, nor any property occupied by, or 

other assets used by us. 

The  expected  long-term  rate  of  return  on  assets  of  6.15%  (2011:  6.75%;  2010:  6.67%)  for  the  Irish 
scheme was calculated based on the assumptions of the following returns for each asset class: Equities 7.50% 

179 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2011: 7.50%; 2010: 7.75%); Bonds 4.50% (2011: 4.50%; 2010: 3.50% ); Property 6.50% (2011: 6.25%; 2010: 
6.25%); and Cash 3.00% (2011: 3.00%; 2010: 2.00%). The expected long-term rate of return on assets of 6.55% 
(2011:  7.55%;  2010:  7.45%)  for  the  UK  scheme  was  calculated  based  on  the  assumptions  of  the  following 
returns for each asset class: Equities 7.50% (2011: 8.10%; 2010: 8.30%); Corporate and Overseas Bonds 4.65% 
(2011: 5.60%; 2010: 5.50%); and Other 3.00% (2011: 3.00%; 2010: 2.27%). 

Since  there  are  no  suitable  euro-denominated  AA-rated  corporate  bonds,  the  expected  return  is 
estimated by adding a suitable risk premium to the rate available from government bonds. The assumptions are 
based on long-term expectations at the beginning of the reporting period and are expected to be relatively stable. 

The history of the plans for the current and prior periods is as follows: 

2012 
€M 

2011 
€M 

At March 31, 
2010 
€M 

2009 
€M 

2008 
€M 

Difference between expected and actual 
return on assets ....................................................................................  
Expressed as a percentage of scheme assets ........................................  
Experience (losses)/gains on scheme 
liabilities ..............................................................................................  
Expressed as a percentage of scheme 
liabilities ..............................................................................................  

(0.8) 
(3%) 

(2%) 

(0.8) 

Total actuarial (losses)/gains ................................................................  
Expressed as a percentage of scheme 
liabilities ..............................................................................................  

(17%) 

(7.1) 

(0.3) 
(1%) 

0.9 

3% 

5.5 

17% 

5.6 
22% 

0.5 

1% 

- 

0% 

(9.8) 
(54%) 

0.9 

3% 

(8.6) 

(31%) 

(6.6) 
(26%) 

1.6 

6% 

5.1 

19% 

We expect to contribute approximately €1.1 million to our defined-benefit plans in 2013.  

Defined-contribution schemes 

The Company operates defined-contribution retirement plans in Ireland and the UK. The costs of these 
plans are charged to the consolidated income  statement in  the period in  which they are incurred. The pension 
cost of these defined-contribution plans was €1.9 million in 2012 (2011: €1.7 million; 2010: €1.4 million). 

22 

Earnings per share  

2012 

At March 31, 
2011 

2010 

Basic earnings per ordinary share (in euro cent) ..........................................................  38.03 
Diluted earnings per ordinary share (in euro cent) .......................................................  37.94 
Number of ordinary shares (in Ms) used for EPS 
Basic  ...........................................................................................................................  1,473.7 
Diluted (a)  ...................................................................................................................  1,477.0 
______________ 
(a)  Details of share options in issue have been described more fully in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements. 

1,485.7 
1,490.1 

25.21 
25.14 

20.68 
20.60 

1,476.4 
1,481.7 

Basic earnings per ordinary share (EPS) for Ryanair Holdings plc for the years ended March 31, 2012, 
2011 and 2010 has been computed by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders by the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. 

Diluted earnings per share takes account solely of the potential future exercise of share options granted 
under the Company‘s share option schemes. For the 2012 fiscal year, the weighted average number of shares in 
issue of 1,477.0 million includes weighted average share options assumed to be converted, and equal to a total 
of 3.3 million shares. For the 2011 fiscal year, the weighted average number of shares in issue of 1,490.1 million 
includes weighted average share options assumed to be converted, and equal to a total of 4.4 million shares. For 
the  2010  fiscal  year,  the  weighted  average  number  of  shares  in  issue  of  1,481.7  million  includes  weighted 
average share options assumed to be converted, and equal to a total of 5.3 million shares.  

180 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 

Commitments and contingencies 

Commitments 

In  January  2002,  the  Company  entered  into  a  contract  with  Boeing  (the  ―2002  Boeing  contract‖) 
whereby  the  Company  agreed  to  purchase  100  new  Boeing  737-800  ―next  generation‖  aircraft,  and  received 
purchase  rights  to  acquire  a  further  50  such  aircraft.  The  2002  Boeing  contract  was  superseded  by  a  contract 
entered  into  with  Boeing  in  January  2003  (the  ―2003  Boeing  contract‖)  whereby  the  Company  agreed  to 
purchase  125  new  Boeing  737-800  ―next  generation‖  aircraft,  thus  adding  ―firm‖  orders  for  22  aircraft  to  the 
existing  ―firm‖  orders  (100  ―firm‖  orders,  plus  three  options  exercised)  under  the  2002  Boeing  contract.  In 
addition, the Company acquired purchase rights over a further 78 aircraft, bringing the number of option aircraft 
to 125. 

In  February  2005,  the  Company  entered  into  another  contract  with  Boeing  (the  ―2005  Boeing 
contract‖)  whereby  the  Company  agreed  to  purchase  70  new  Boeing  737-800  ―next  generation‖  aircraft  and 
acquired  additional  purchase  rights  to  acquire  a  further  70  such  aircraft  over  a  five-year  period  from  2006  to 
2012 (subsequently extended to 2013). The aircraft to be delivered after January 1, 2005, arising from the 2002 
and  2003  Boeing  contracts,  benefit  from  the  discounts  and  concessions  under  the  2005  Boeing  contract.  In 
addition, the orders for the 89 ―firm‖ aircraft still to be delivered at January 1, 2005 and the remaining additional 
purchase rights in respect of 123 aircraft granted under the 2002 and 2003 Boeing contracts are governed by the 
2005 Boeing contract from January 2005.  

In  August  2006  the  Company  exercised  32  options  under  the  2005  contract  whereby  it  increased  its 

―firm‖ aircraft deliveries by this amount during fiscal 2009 (22) and 2010 (10). 

In  April  2007  the  Company  exercised  27  options  under  the  2005  contract  whereby  it  increased  its 

―firm‖ aircraft deliveries during fiscal 2010. 

In June 2008, the Company exercised three options with Boeing under the terms of its 2005 contract. 

These ―firm‖ Boeing 737-800 aircraft were delivered in fiscal 2011. 

In  September  2008,  the  Company  exercised  four  options  with  Boeing  under  the  terms  of  its  2005 

contract. These ―firm‖ Boeing 737-800 aircraft were delivered in fiscal 2011. 

In October 2008, the Company exercised 10 options with Boeing under the terms of its 2005 contract. 

These ―firm‖ Boeing 737-800 aircraft were delivered in fiscal 2011. 

In January 2009, the Company exercised 13 options with Boeing under the terms of its 2005 contract. 

These ―firm‖ Boeing 737-800 aircraft were delivered in fiscal 2011. 

In  December  2009,  the  Company  exercised  10  options  with  Boeing  under  the  terms  of  its  2005 

contract. These ―firm‖ Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be delivered in fiscal 2013. 

The table below details the firm aircraft delivery schedule  at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 for 

the Company pursuant to the 2005 Boeing contract. 

Aircraft 
Delivered at 
March 31, 
2012 

Firm Aircraft 
Deliveries  
Fiscal 2013/ 2014 

Total “Firm” 
Aircraft 

2005 Contract .......................  
Total ......................................  

230 
230 

15 
15 

245 
245 

Basic price 
per aircraft 
(U.S.$ 
million) 

51.0 

Firm Aircraft 
Deliveries 
Fiscal 2012-
2013 at 
March 31, 
2011 

40 
40 

The  ―Basic  Price‖  (equivalent  to  a  standard  list  price  for  an  aircraft  of  this  type)  for  each  aircraft 
governed by the 2005 Boeing contract will be increased by (a) an estimated U.S.$900,000 per aircraft for certain 
―buyer furnished‖ equipment the Company has asked Boeing to purchase and install on each of the aircraft, and 
(b) an  ―Escalation Factor‖ designed to increase  the Basic  Price, as defined  in the purchase agreement,  of any 

181 

 
 
 
 
 
individual aircraft by applying a formula which reflects increases in the published U.S. Employment Cost and 
Producer  Price  indices  between  the  time  the  Basic  Price  was  set  and  the  period  of  six  months  prior  to  the 
delivery of such aircraft. 

Boeing  has  granted  Ryanair  certain  price  concessions  with  regard  to  the  Boeing  737-800  ―next 
generation‖  aircraft.  These  take  the  form  of  credit  memoranda  to  the  Company  for  the  amount  of  such 
concessions, which the Company may apply toward the purchase of goods and services from Boeing or toward 
certain payments, in respect of the purchase of the aircraft under the various Boeing contracts. 

Boeing  and  CFMI  (the  manufacturer  of  the  engines  to  be  fitted  on  the  purchased  aircraft)  have  also 
agreed  to  give  the  Company  certain  allowances  in  addition  to  providing  other  goods  and  services  to  the 
Company on concessionary terms. These credit memoranda and allowances will effectively reduce the price of 
each  aircraft  to  the  Company.  As  a  result,  the  effective  price  of  each  aircraft  will  be  significantly  below  the 
Basic  Price  mentioned  above.  At  March  31,  2012,  the  total  potential  commitment  to  acquire  all  15  ―firm‖ 
aircraft,  not  taking  such  increases  and  decreases  into  account,  will  be  up  to  U.S.$0.8  billion.    (At  March  31, 
2011, the total potential commitment was U.S.$2.0 billion to acquire all 40 ―firm‖ aircraft). 

Operating leases 

The  Company  financed  72  of  the  Boeing  737-800  aircraft  delivered  between  December  2003  and 
March  2012  under  seven-year,  sale-and-leaseback  arrangements  with  a  number  of  international  leasing 
companies,  pursuant  to  which  each  lessor  purchased  an  aircraft  and  leased  it  to  Ryanair  under  an  operating 
lease. Between October 2010 and December 2012, 13 operating lease aircraft were returned to the lessor at the 
agreed maturity date of the lease. At March 31, 2012 Ryanair had 59 operating lease aircraft in the fleet. As a 
result,  Ryanair  operates,  but  does  not  own,  these  aircraft.  Ryanair  has  no  right  or  obligation  to  acquire  these 
aircraft at the end of the relevant lease terms. Two of these leases are denominated in euro and require Ryanair 
to make variable rental payments that are linked to EURIBOR. Through the use of interest rate swaps, Ryanair 
has  effectively  converted  the  floating-rate  rental  payments  due  under  these  two  leases  into  fixed-rate  rental 
payments. Another 30 leases are also denominated in euro and require Ryanair to make fixed rental payments 
over  the  term  of  the  leases.  27  remaining  operating  leases  are  U.S.  dollar-denominated,  of  which  two  require 
Ryanair to make variable rental payments that are linked to U.S. dollar LIBOR, while the remaining 25 require 
Ryanair to make fixed rental payments. The Company has an option to extend the initial period of seven years 
on  36  of  the  59  remaining  operating  lease  aircraft  as  at  March  31,  2012,  on  pre-determined  terms.  Four 
operating lease arrangements will mature during the year ended March 31, 2013. The Company has decided not 
to extend any of these operating leases for a secondary lease period. The following table sets out the total future 
minimum payments of leasing 59 aircraft (2011: 51 aircraft; 2010: 55 aircraft), ignoring  movement in interest 
rates, foreign currency and hedging arrangements, at March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively: 

2012 

At March 31, 
2011 

2010 

Present 
value of 
Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Present 
value of 
minimum 
payments 
€M 

Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Present 
value of 
minimum 
payments 
€M 

Due within one year ..........................................................................................................  
Due between one and five 
years ..................................................................................................................................  
Due after five years ...........................................................................................................  
Total ..................................................................................................................................  

328.0 
160.9 
605.8 

232.5 
87.4 
426.3 

325.5 
164.8 
590.5 

116.9 

106.4 

100.2 

248.5 
91.8 
432.0 

91.7 

77.8 

208.8 
112.2 
398.8 

71.5 

160.3 
64.3 
296.1 

Finance leases 

The Company financed 30 of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft delivered between March 2005 and March 
2012  with  13-year  euro-denominated  Japanese  Operating  Leases  with  Call  Options  (―JOLCOs‖).  These 
structures are accounted for as finance leases and are initially  recorded at fair value in the Company‘s balance 
sheet. Under each of these contracts, Ryanair has a call option to purchase the aircraft at a pre-determined price 

182 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
after  a  period  of  10.5  years,  which  it  may  exercise.  The  following  table  sets  out  the  total  future  minimum 
payments of leasing 30 aircraft (2011: 30 aircraft; 2010: 20 aircraft) under JOLCOs at March 31, 2012, 2011 
and 2010, respectively: 

2012 

At March 31, 
2011 

2010 

Present 
value of 
Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Present 
value of 
minimum 
payments 
€M 

Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Minimum 
payments 
€M 

Present 
value of 
minimum 
payments 
€M 

51.0 

63.2 

Due within one year ..........................................................................................................  
Due between one and five 
years ..................................................................................................................................  
Due after five years ...........................................................................................................  
Total minimum lease 
payments ...........................................................................................................................  
Less amounts allocated to 
future financing costs ........................................................................................................  

318.9 
484.0 

243.6 
217.2 

305.2 
556.3 

(60.1) 

(76.2) 

866.1 

511.8 

923.4 

61.9 

- 

48.7 

262.8 
535.7 

847.2 

- 

Present value of minimum 
lease payments ..................................................................................................................  

847.2 

806.0 

511.8 

847.2 

38.9 

203.7 
353.7 

596.3 

(34.8) 

32.5 

183.7 
345.3 

561.5 

- 

561.5 

561.5 

Commitments resulting from the use of derivative financial instruments by the Company are described 

in Notes 5 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Contingencies 

The Company is engaged in litigation arising in the ordinary course of its business. Management does 
not  believe  that  any  such  litigation  will  individually  or  in  aggregate  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
financial  condition  of  the  Company.  Should  the  Company  be  unsuccessful  in  these  litigation  actions, 
management believes the possible liabilities then arising cannot be determined but are not expected to materially 
adversely affect the Company‘s results of operations or financial position. 

In February 2004, the European Commission ruled that Ryanair had received illegal state aid from the 
Walloon regional government in connection  with its establishment of a low  cost base at  Brussels (Charleroi). 
Ryanair advised the regional government that it believed no money was repayable as the cost of establishing the 
base exceeded the amount determined to be illegal state aid. Ryanair also appealed the decision of the European 
Commission to the European Court of First Instance (―CFI‖), requesting that the Court annul the decision on the 
basis  that  Ryanair‘s  agreement  at  Brussels  (Charleroi)  was  consistent  with  agreements  at  similar  privately 
owned airports and therefore did not constitute illegal state aid. The Company placed €4 million in an escrow 
account pending the outcome of this appeal.  In December  2008, the CFI annulled the Commission‘s decision 
against Charleroi Airport and Ryanair was repaid the €4 million that the Commission had claimed was illegal 
state aid. A further action taken by the Belgian government for €2.3 million has also been withdrawn. 

 Ryanair  is  facing  similar  legal  challenges  with  respect  to  agreements  with  certain  other  airports, 
notably Lübeck, Berlin (Schönefeld), Tampere, Alghero, Pau, Aarhus, Frankfurt (Hahn), Niederrhein (Weeze), 
Zweibrücken, Altenburg, Klagenfurt, Vasteras, Paris (Beauvais), La Rochelle, Carcassonne, Nimes, Angouleme, 
Marseille and Brussels (Charleroi). In January 2010, the  European commission concluded the Bratislava state 
aid investigation with a finding that Ryanair‘s agreement with Bratislava airport involved no aid. The remaining 
nineteen  investigations  involving  Ryanair  are  ongoing  and  Ryanair  currently  expects  that  they  will  conclude 
within the next 12 months, with any European Commission‘s decisions appealable to the EU General Court. 

State aid complaints by Lufthansa about Ryanair‘s cost base at Frankfurt (Hahn) have been rejected by 
German  courts,  as  have  similar  complaints  by  Air  Berlin  in  relation  to  Ryanair‘s  arrangement  with  Lubeck 
airport, but following a German Supreme Court ruling on a procedural issue in early 2011, these cases will be 
re-heard  by  lower  courts.  In  addition,  Ryanair  has  been  involved  in  legal  challenges  including  allegations  of 
state aid at Alghero and Marseille airports. The Alghero case (initiated by Air One) was dismissed in its entirety 
in April 2011. The Marseille case was withdrawn by the plaintiffs (subsidiaries of Air France) in May 2011. 

183 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  has  also  entered  into  a  series  of  interest  rate  swaps  to  hedge  against  fluctuations  in 
interest rates for certain floating-rate financing arrangements. Cash deposits have been set aside as collateral for 
the  counterparty‘s  exposure  to  risk  of  fluctuations  on  long-term  derivative  and  other  financing  arrangements 
with Ryanair (restricted cash) (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further details). Additional 
numerical information on these swaps and on other derivatives held by the Company is set out in Notes 5 and 11 
to the consolidated financial statements. 

24 

Note to cash flow statements 

2012 
€M 

At March 31, 
2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

(708.8) 
Net (debt) at beginning of year ....................................................................................  
680.0 
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in year .............................................  
(97.2) 
(Decrease)/increase in financial assets > 3 months ......................................................  
(Decrease) in restricted cash ........................................................................................  
(7.8) 
Net cash flow from (increase) in debt ..........................................................................  24.2 
599.2 
Movement in net funds resulting from cash flows .......................................................  
(109.6) 
Net (debt) at end of year ..............................................................................................  
Analysed as: 
Cash and cash equivalents, financial assets and restricted cash ...................................  
Total borrowings ..........................................................................................................  
Net (debt) .....................................................................................................................  

3,515.6 
(3,625.2) 
(109.6) 

(142.8) 
550.4 
(398.3) 
(24.9) 
(693.2) 
(566.0) 
(708.8) 

2,940.6 
(3,649.4) 
(708.8) 

(120.2) 
(105.3) 
864.3 
(223.8) 
(557.8) 
(22.6) 
(142.8) 

2,813.4 
(2,956.2) 
(142.8) 

25 

Dividends and Share buy-backs  

In August 2011, the Company bought back 27.0 million ordinary shares at a cost of €85.1 million.  In 
March 2012, the Company bought back a further 9.5 million ordinary shares at a cost of €39.5 million.  Overall 
this is equivalent to approximately 2.5% of the Company‘s issued share capital.  All ordinary shares repurchased 
have been cancelled.  Accordingly, share capital decreased by 36.5 million ordinary shares with a nominal value 
of  €0.2  million  and  the  capital  redemption  reserve  increased  by  a  corresponding  €0.2  million.    The  capital 
redemption  reserve  is  required  to  be  created  under  Irish  law  to  preserve  permanent  capital  in  the  parent 
Company. See note 15 to the consolidated financial statements for further details. 

On  October  1,  2010,  following  shareholder  approval  at  the  Company‘s  annual  general  meeting  on 
September  22,  2010,  Ryanair  Holdings  plc  paid  a  special  dividend  of  €500  million,  (33.57  euro  cent  per 
ordinary share), to shareholders.  Prior to effecting the dividend payment and in order to ensure that the parent 
company, Ryanair Holdings plc, had sufficient distributable profits to effect the dividend payment, on June 15, 
2010, Ryanair Limited declared a dividend of €400 million to Ryanair Holdings plc.  

The Company announced on May 21, 2012 that it plans to pay a special dividend of €0.34 per ordinary 
share (approx €489 million) in November 2012 subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting on  
September 21, 2012. 

26 

Post-balance sheet events  

On  March  29,  2012,  the  Company  agreed  to  buy  back  15.0  million  ordinary  shares  at  a  cost  of  €67.5 
million.  This is equivalent to 1.0% of the issued share capital of the Company at March 31, 2012.  This trade settled 
in early April 2012 and the repurchased shares were cancelled.  

On June 19, 2012 Ryanair announced its intention to make an all cash offer of €1.30 per share for the entire 

issued share capital of Aer Lingus Group plc. 

184 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27 

Subsidiary undertakings and related party transactions 

The following is the principal subsidiary undertaking of Ryanair Holdings plc: 

Name 

Ryanair Limited (a) .....................  

Effective date of 
acquisition/incorporation 

Registered 
Office 

Nature of 
Business 

August 23, 1996 
(acquisition) 

Corporate Headquarters 
Dublin Airport 
Co Dublin, Ireland. 

Airline operator 

____________________________ 
(a)  Ryanair Limited is wholly owned by Ryanair Holdings plc. 

Information regarding all other subsidiaries will be filed with the Company‘s next Irish Annual Return 

as provided for by Section 16(3) of the Irish Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986. 

In  accordance  with  the  basis  of  consolidation  policy,  as  described  in  Note  1  of  these  consolidated 
financial  statements,  the  subsidiary  undertaking  referred  to  above  has  been  consolidated  in  the  financial 
statements of Ryanair Holdings plc for the years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. 

The  total  amount  of  remuneration  paid  to  senior  key  management  (defined  as  the  executive  team 
reporting  to  the  Board  of  Directors)  and  directors  amounted  to  €5  million  in  the  fiscal  year  ended  March  31, 
2012, (2011: €6.5 million, 2010: €7.4 million), the majority of which comprises short-term employee benefits. 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2012 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2011 
€M 

Year ended  
March 31,  
2010 
€M 

Basic salary and bonus ...................................................................................................  5.9 
Pension contributions .....................................................................................................  0.1 
(1.0) 
Share-based compensation expense (a) ..........................................................................  
5.0 

3.4 
0.8 
3.2 
7.4 
(a)   The net credit to the income statement in the year comprises a reversal of previously recognised share-
based  compensation  expense  for awards  that  did  not  vest,  offset  by  a  charge  for  the  fair  value  of 
various share options granted in prior periods, which are being recognised within the income statement 
in accordance with employee services rendered. 

3.9 
0.9 
1.7 
6.5 

28 

  Date of approval 

The consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on July 

27, 2012. 

185 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
………………………………………………..   ………………………………………… 

……………………………………………….. 

…………………………………………………………. 

Company Balance Sheet 

At March 31, 

Note 

2012 
€M 

2011 
€M 

2010 
€M 

Non-current assets 
Investments in subsidiaries  ............ .................................................................... 

30 

101.5 

102.2 

98.9 

Current assets 
Loans and receivables from subsidiaries .................................................................... 
Cash and cash equivalents .................................... .............................................. 

31 

……………………………… 
1,517.5 
2.1 

683.0 
4.1 

759.6 
- 

Total assets .......................................................................................................  

          1,621.1 

789.3 

858.5 

Current liabilities 
Amounts due to subsidiaries ..............................................................................   .................................................................... 

35.2 

35.2 

32 

35.2 

Shareholders‟ equity  
Issued share capital ............................................................................................   .................................................................... 
Share premium account .....................................................................................   .................................................................... 
Capital redemption reserve ................................................................................  
Retained earnings ...............................................................................................   .................................................................... 
Other reserves  ...................................................................................................   .................................................................... 

9.5 
659.3 
0.5 
59.6 
25.2 

9.3 
666.4 
0.7 
888.0 
21.5 

9.4 
631.9 
0.5 
155.1 
26.4 

Shareholders‟ equity ........................................................................................  

Total liabilities and shareholders‟ equity .......................................................  

1,585.9 

1,621.1 

754.1 

789.3 

823.3 

858.5 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

On behalf of the Board 

M. O‘Leary 
Director 

July 27, 2012 

D. Bonderman 
Director 

186 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
               
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Cash Flows 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year ended 
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Operating activities 
Profit for the year ................................................................ . 
Net cash provided by operating activities 

Investing activities 
(Increase)/decrease in loans to subsidiaries .........................  

Net cash from/(used) in investing activities .....................  

Financing activities 
Shares purchased under share buy-back programme ...........  

950.0 
950.0 

(834.5) 

115.5 

(124.6) 

Dividend paid ......................................................................  
Net proceeds from share issued ...........................................                       7.1 
(117.5) 

Net cash (used)/from by financing activities ....................  

- 

400.0 
400.0 

76.6 

76.6 

- 

(500.0) 

27.5 

(472.5) 

- 
- 

(14.5) 

(14.5) 

- 

- 

14.5 

14.5 

(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents ...........  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ..............   

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ........................   

(2.0) 

4.1 

2.1 

4.1 

                    - 

- 

                    - 

4.1 

                    - 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

187 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Changes in Shareholders‟ Equity 

Ordinary 
Shares 
M 

Issued 
Share 
Capital 
€M 

1,473.4 

9.4 

Share 
Premium 
Retained 
Account  Earnings 

€M 
617.4 

€M 
154.6 

Capital 
Redemption 
Shares 
€M 

Other 
Reserves 
€M 

0.5 

22.0 

Balance at March 31, 2009………..…… 
Comprehensive income  
Profit for the year……………………....... 
Total comprehensive income…………….. 
Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity 
Issue of ordinary equity shares…………… 
Share based payments………………….. 
Transfer of exercised and expired share  
based awards……………………………. 
Balance at March 31, 2010…………….. 
Comprehensive income  
Profit for the year………….…...… 
Total comprehensive income…………….. 
Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity 
Issue of ordinary equity shares…………… 
Share-based payments……………………. 
Transfer of exercised and expired share 
based awards……………………………... 
Dividend paid……………………………... 
Balance at March 31, 2011……………... 
Comprehensive income 
Profit for the year……………………....... 
Total comprehensive income…………….. 
Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity 
Issue of ordinary equity shares…………… 
Repurchase of ordinary equity shares……  
Cancellation of repurchased ordinary  
shares…………………………………… 
Share-based payments……………………. 
Transfer of exercised and expired share 
based awards……………………………... 
Balance at March 31, 2012…………….. 

- 
- 

5.5 
- 

- 
1,478.9 

- 
- 

10.7 
- 

- 
- 
1,489.6 

- 
- 

2.5 
- 

(36.5) 
- 

- 
1,455.6 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
9.4 

- 
- 

0.1 
- 

- 
- 
9.5 

- 
- 

- 
- 

(0.2) 
- 

- 
9.3 

- 
- 

14.5 
- 

- 
631.9 

- 
- 

27.4 
- 

- 
- 
659.3 

- 
- 

- 
- 

0.5 
155.1 

400.0 
400.0 

- 
- 

4.5 
(500.0) 
59.6 

- 
- 

950.0 
950.0 

7.1 
- 

- 
(124.6) 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
666.4 

3.0 
888.0 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
0.5 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
0.5 

- 
- 

- 
- 

0.2 
- 

- 
0.7 

- 
- 

- 
4.9 

(0.5) 
26.4 

- 
- 

- 
3.3 

(4.5) 
- 
25.2 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
(0.7) 

(3.0) 
21.5 

Total 
€M 
803.9 

- 
- 

14.5 
4.9 

- 
823.3 

400.0 
400.0 

27.5 
3.3 

- 
(500.0) 
754.1 

950.0 
950.0 

7.1 
(124.6) 

- 
(0.7) 

- 
1,585.9 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial information. 

188 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes forming part of the Company Financial Statements 

29         Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies 

The  Company  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU), which are effective for the year ended and 
as at March 31, 2012, as applied in accordance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012.  On publishing parent 
entity  financial  statements  together  with  group  financial  statements  the  Company  is  taking  advantage  of  the 
exemption  contained  in  Section  148(8)  of  the  Companies  Act,  1963  not  to  present  its  individual  income 
statement,  statement  of  comprehensive  income  and  related  notes  that  form  a  part  of  these  approved  financial 
statements. 

The Company financial statements are presented in euro millions, being its functional currency. They are 
prepared on an historical cost basis except for certain share based payment transactions, which are based on fair 
values determined at grant date. 

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRS  requires  management  to  make 
judgements,  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  application  of  policies  and  reported  amounts  of  assets, 
liabilities, income and expenses.  These estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience 
and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis 
of making the judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other 
sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates. These underlying assumptions are reviewed 
on  an  ongoing  basis.  Revisions  to  accounting  estimates  are  recognised  in  the  period  in  which  the  estimate  is 
revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if these are also 
affected. Principal sources of estimation uncertainty have been set out in the critical accounting policy section 
in  Note  1  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  Such  uncertainties  may  impact  the  carrying  value  of 
investments in subsidiaries at future dates. 

Statement of compliance  

The  Company  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRS  as  adopted  by  the  EU, 

which are effective at March 31, 2012 as applied in accordance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012.  

The  directors  have  reviewed  all  EU  endorsed  IFRSs  as  set  forth  in  Note  1  to  the  consolidated  financial 
statements, and have concluded their adoption will not have a significant impact on the parent entity financial 
statements. 

Share-based payments  

The  Company  accounts  for  the  fair  value  of  share  options  granted  to  employees  of  a  subsidiary  as  an 
increase in its investment in that subsidiary. The fair value of such options is determined in a consistent manner 
to  that  set  out  in  the  Group  share-based  payment  accounting  policy  and  as  set  out  in  Note  15  (c)  to  the 
consolidated financial statements. 

Income taxes  

Income taxes are accounted for by the Company in a manner consistent to that set out in the Group income 

tax accounting policy. 

Financial assets  

The Company holds investments in subsidiary companies, which are carried at cost less any impairments. 

Guarantees  

The Company occasionally guarantees certain liabilities of subsidiary companies. These are considered to 
be insurance arrangements and are accounted for as such i.e. a contingent liability until such time as it becomes 
probable that the Company will be required to make a payment under the guarantee. 

Loans and borrowings 

All  loans  and  borrowings  are  initially  recorded  at  the  fair  value  of  consideration  received,  net  of 
attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, non-current interest bearing loans are measured 
at amortised cost, using the effective interest yield methodology. 

189 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30    Investments in subsidiaries 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Balance at start of year 
New investments in subsidiaries by way of share 
option grant to subsidiary employees .....................................................................  
Reversal of unvested cumulative share based 
expense........................................................................ 
Balance at end of year 

(2.5) 
101.5 

102.2 

1.8 

98.9 

3.3 

- 
102.2 

94.0 

4.9 

- 
98.9 

31    Loans and receivables from subsidiaries 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2012 
€M 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Due from Ryanair Limited (subsidiary)  ................................................................  

1,517.5 
1,517.5 

683.0 
683.0 

759.6 
759.6 

All amounts due from subsidiaries are interest free and repayable upon demand. 

32   Amounts due to subsidiaries 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2011 
€M 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2010 
€M 

Year  ended  
March 31, 
2009 
€M 

Due to Ryanair Limited ..........................................................................................  

35.2 
35.2 

35.2 
35.2 

35.2 
35.2 

At  March  31,  2012,  Ryanair  Holdings  plc  had  borrowings  of  €35.2  million  (2011:  €35.2  million;  2010: 

€35.2 million) from Ryanair Limited. The loan is interest free and repayable on demand.  

33    Financial instruments 

The  Company  does  not  undertake  hedging  activities  on  behalf  of  itself  or  other  companies  within  the 

Group. Financial instruments in the Company primarily take the form of loans to subsidiary undertakings. 

Amounts due to or from subsidiary undertakings (primarily Ryanair Limited) in the form of inter-company 
loans are interest free and are repayable upon demand and further details of these have been given in Notes 31 
and  32  of  the  parent  entity  financial  statements.  These  inter-company  balances  are  eliminated  in  the  group 
consolidation. 

The euro is the functional and presentation currency of the Company‘s balance sheet and all transactions 
entered  into  by  the  Company  are  euro  denominated.  As  such,  the  Company  does  not  have  any  significant 
foreign currency risk. 

The credit risk associated with the Company‘s financial assets principally relates to  the credit risk of the 
Ryanair  group  as  a  whole,  which  is  not  rated  by  an  external  rating  agency.  Additionally  the  Company  had 
guaranteed certain of its subsidiary company liabilities. Details of these arrangements are given in  Note 34 to 
the company financial statements. 

190 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34    Contingencies 

a)   The Company has provided €5,503.4 million (2011: €5,349.6 million; 2010: €4,384.2 million) in letters 
of guarantee to secure obligations of subsidiary undertakings in respect of loans, bank advances and long dated 
foreign currency transactions. 

b)     In order to avail itself of the exemption contained in Section 17 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 
1986, the holding company, Ryanair Holdings plc, has guaranteed the liabilities of its subsidiary undertakings 
registered  in  Ireland.  As  a  result,  the  subsidiary  undertakings  have  been  exempted  from  the  provisions  of 
Section  7  of  the  Companies  (Amendment)  Act,  1986.  Details  of  the  Group‘s  principal  subsidiaries  have  been 
included at Note 27. The Irish subsidiaries of the Group covered by the Section 17 exemption are listed at Note 
27  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  also.  Four  additional  Irish  subsidiaries  covered  by  this  exemption, 
which  are  not  listed  as  principal  subsidiaries  at  Note  27  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  are  Airport 
Marketing Services Limited, FRC Investments Limited, Coinside Limited and Mazine Limited. 

35    Dividends 

  In  June  2012,  Ryanair  Limited  proposed  a  second  special  dividend  of  €0.34  per  share  (approximately 

€483m) payable in November 2012 subject to shareholder approval. 

  Prior  to  effecting  the  dividend  payment  and  in  order  to  ensure  that  Ryanair  Holdings  plc,  had  sufficient 
distributable  profits  to  effect  the  dividend  payment,  Ryanair  Limited  declared  a  dividend  of  €950  million  to 
Ryanair Holdings plc. during the fiscal year to March 31, 2012. 

36  Post-balance sheet events 

On  March  29,  2012,  the  Company  agreed  to  buy  back  15.0m  ordinary  shares  at  a  cost  of  €67.5m.  This  is 
equivalent  to  1.0%  of  the  issued  share  capital  of  the  Company  at  March  31,  2012. This  trade  settled  in  early 
April 2012 and the shares were cancelled. 

37  Date of approval 

The Company financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. 

191 

 
 
 
Directors 

Directors and other Information 

           Chairman 

 D. Bonderman   
 M. O‘Leary                                            Chief Executive 
 M. Horgan 
 K. Kirchberger 
C. McCreevy 
 K. McLaughlin 
 D. McKeon 
 J. Osborne 

                                                                  P. Pietrogrande 

Secretary 

 J. Komorek 

Registered Office 

 Corporate Headquarters 
 Dublin Airport 
 Co. Dublin 

                                                          Ireland 

Auditors 
                                                                  1 Stokes Place 

 KPMG – Chartered Accountants 

 St. Stephens Green 

                                                          Dublin 2 

                                                                  Ireland 

Principal Bankers 

 Bank of Ireland 
 Dublin Airport 
 Co Dublin 
 Ireland 

 Barclays Bank PLC 
 2 Park Place 

                                                                  Upper Hatch Street 
                                                                  Dublin 2 

 Ireland 

Solicitors & 
Attorneys at Law 

 A&L Goodbody - Solicitors 
 International Financial Services Centre 
 North Wall Quay 

                                                                  Dublin 1 
                                                                  Ireland 

 Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen Hamilton 
 1 Liberty Plaza, New York 
 NY 10006, United States 

192 

 
 
 
 
  
                                                      
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
                                                          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
                                                
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX  

GLOSSARY 

Certain  of  the  terms  included  in  the  section  on  Selected  Operating  and  Other  Data  and  elsewhere  in  this 
annual  report  on  Form  20-F  have  the  meanings  indicated  below  and  refer  only  to  Ryanair‘s  scheduled  passenger 
service. 

Available Seat Miles (―ASMs‖) ....................   Represents the number of seats available for passengers multiplied 

by the number of miles those seats were flown.  

Average Booked Passenger Fare ...................   Represents  the  average  fare  paid  by  a  fare-paying  passenger  who 
has booked a ticket. 

Average Daily Flight Hour Utilization ..........   Represents the average number of flight hours flown in service per 

day per aircraft for the total fleet of operated aircraft. 

Average Fuel Cost Per U.S. Gallon ...............   Represents the average cost per U.S. gallon of jet fuel for the fleet 
(including  fueling  charges)  after  giving  effect  to  fuel  hedging 
arrangements. 

Average Length of Passenger Haul ...............   Represents the average number of  miles traveled by a fare-paying 

passenger. 

Ancillary Revenue per Booked Passenger ....   Represents the average revenue earned per booked passenger flown 

from ancillary services. 

Average Yield per ASM ................................   Represents  the  average  flown  passenger  fare  revenue  for  each 

available seat mile (ASM). 

Average Yield per RPM ................................   Represents  the  average  passenger  fare  revenue  for  each  revenue 

passenger mile (RPM), or each mile a revenue passenger is flown. 

Baggage Commissions ..................................   Represents  the  commissions  payable  to  airports  on  the  revenue 
collected  at  the  airports  for  excess  baggage  and  airport  baggage 
fees. 

Booked Passenger Load Factor .....................   Represents  the  total  number  of  seats  sold  as  a  percentage  of  total 

seat capacity on all sectors flown. 

Break-even Load Factor ................................   Represents  the  number  of  RPMs  at  which  passenger  revenues 
would  have  been  equal  to  operating  expenses  divided  by  ASMs 
(based  on  Average  Yield  per  RPM).  For  the  purposes  of  this 
calculation,  the  number  of  RPMs  at  which  passenger  revenues 
would  have  been  equal  to  operating  expenses  is  calculated  by 
dividing operating expenses by Average Revenue per RPM. 

Cost Per ASM (―CASM‖) .............................   Represents  operating  expenses  (excluding  ancillary  costs)  divided 

by ASMs. 

Net Margin ....................................................   Represents profit after taxation as a percentage of total revenues. 

Number of Airports Served ...........................   Represents the number of airports to/from which the carrier offered 

scheduled service at the end of the period. 

Number of Owned Aircraft Operated ............   Represents the number of aircraft owned and operated at the end of 

the period. 

Operating Margin ..........................................   Represents operating profit as a percentage of total revenues. 

Part 145 .........................................................   The  European  regulatory  standard  for  aircraft  maintenance 

established by the European Aviation Safety Agency. 

Revenue Passenger Miles (―RPMs‖) .............   Represents  the  number  of  miles  flown  by  booked  fare-paying 

passengers.  

Revenue Passengers Booked .........................   Represents the number of fare-paying passengers booked. 

Sectors Flown ................................................   Represents the number of passenger flight sectors flown. 

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